A proverb is a paremia.
Proverb is a concept originating from the Latin term proverbium, which refers to a type of expression that conveys a sentence and seeks to promote reflection . Proverbs, in this sense, are part of the paremias (the name given to this type of statements).
The discipline that is responsible for studying proverbs, sayings and the rest of the expressions that are created for the transmission of traditional ideas based on experience is known as paremiology , and from this term derives the noun that allows us to refer to any of them in generic form ( paremia ).
Proverbs and sayings
In colloquial language, proverb is usually used as a synonym for other paremias, such as proverbs , aphorisms and axioms . In each case, however, it is possible to establish some differences.
The notion of proverb is usually associated with a cultured expression of a certain complexity. The saying, on the other hand, has a more popular tone and a broader diffusion. Another difference is that proverbs appeal to humor , while proverbs are more formal.
Main features
A proverb, in short, is an expression that aims to teach a lesson or that contains a moral imperative . It is common for proverbs to be grouped according to their origin, something that allows us to refer to Chinese proverbs , Japanese proverbs , Spanish proverbs , etc. There are also Latin proverbs , used by the Romans, which have not been translated in more than two thousand years.
Proverbs generally have a literal meaning and a suggested meaning. The teaching, in this sense, is found in the meaning that can be deduced from the literal information . In some cases, literality is meaningless.
An example of a proverb is the following: "Patience is a tree that has bitter roots, although it bears very sweet fruits." This proverb points out that being patient can be difficult, but it is something that ends up paying off in the future . Therefore, it is worth being patient and waiting for the subsequent reward.
Proverbs is a book of the Bible.
Proverb Collections
The first known proverbs date from very remote times, as proven by the following collections and compilations:
- The Book of Proverbs , known simply as Proverbs , which is part of the Old Testament of the Bible and also the Hebrew Tanakh . Christianity places it in the group of Wisdom Books , while Judaism places it in the Writings (or Ketuvim ). Its content is a large number of sentences or maxims with moral or religious teachings. Historically, its authorship is attributed to King Solomon and it is estimated that it was written around the year 722 BC. c.
- Gnomonic poetry , a genre that is characterized by bringing together a series of maxims in verse form to make it easier to memorize them. It is included in the family of wisdom literature , which communicates general truths about the world. Among the topics covered in gnomonic poetry , attributed to the ancient Greeks, it is possible to find a great variety, ranging from the mundane to the divine and the sacred. In Ancient Greece , these poems were called gnomes , a term derived from "opinion" .
- The Hávamál , a poem that belongs to the Poetic or Greater Edda , a collection written in Old Norse that was originally preserved in the Codex Regius , a medieval Icelandic manuscript. In Hávamál various tips are presented to lead a life full of knowledge and be able to survive. Among the proverbs that make it up there are some that are presented from the perspective of the most important god of Norse mythology , Odin. It is estimated that the preparation of the Codex Regius , the only source currently available, was done around the year 800 .