10010016
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
 NGUYỄN THỊ BÍCH TRANG

TOWARDS BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND USING
ENGLISH PROVERBS

HƯỚNG TỚI VIỆC HIỂU VÀ SỬ DỤNG TỤC NGỮ TIẾNG ANH
TỐT HƠN
M.A. thesis – program I Field: english linguistics
Code: 602215
Hanoi, 2008 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES

PART A: INTRODUCTION
01

1. Rationale
01

2. Objectives of the study
02

3. Scope of the study
02

4. Methods of the study
02

4.1. Strategic method
02

4.2. Tackling methods
02

4.3. Supporting methods
03
PART B: DEVELOPMENT
04
Chapter I: Literature Review
04

I.1. Origin of proverbs
04


I.2.5. A note on the content of proverbs
12

I.3. Differences between proverbs and other related terms
13

I.3.1. Differences between proverbs and idioms
13

I.3.1.1. Content
13

I.3.1.2. Function
13

I.3.2. Differences between “proverbs” and “ca dao”
14

I.4. Characteristics of proverbs
15

I.4.1. Forms
15

I.4.2. Content
16

I.4.3. Function
16


II.2.1.5. Animal components existing only in Vietnamese
25

II.3. Difference in rhythm and rhyme
27

II.3.1. Rhythm
27

A. Rhythm of English proverbs
28

1. Factors creating rhythm
28

2. Types of rhythm
28

3. Function of rhythm
31

B. Rhythm of Vietnamese proverbs
31

1. Factors creating rhythm
31

1.1. “âm vực”
31


II.3.2.1.1.2. Vietnamese proverbs
38

II.4. Difficulties in translating English proverbs into Vietnamese ones
40
Chapter III: Implications towards better proverb translation
46

III.1. How to translate English proverbs into Vietnamese ones
successfully
46

III.2. Vietnamese equivalent can be found
46

III.3. Vietnamese equivalent cannot be found
48

III.3.1. We can add or omit words to create rhyme ( rhyme in succession,
rhyme in separation, relative rhyme or perfect rhyme)
48

III.3.2. Creating rhyme by repeating words
49

III.3.3. The proverb can be translated into a Vietnamese six-eight meter
49

III.3.4. Creating two equal, parallel clause

men that in conversation, it is often enough to repeat just the beginning of a
proverb, the rest is easily supplied by the other calculators‟‟ (W.J. Ball-
Conversational English)
Understanding English proverbs, therefore, helps us understand more
clearly about a nation, about its culture, history…Furthermore, exploring,
comparing and contrasting proverbs in native as well as in target language will
surely bring about a treasure of valuable knowledge and a more convenient
condition for foreign language learning process.
However, understanding and using English proverbs effectively is very
difficult for many reasons: differences in culture and history, poor background
knowledge of learners, techniques and strategies in studying proverbs…
These ideas give me a tremendous impetus to implement the study
„Towards better understanding and using English proverbs’’. This study is
an investigation into factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using
English proverbs. As an investigation, it brings insights into some of the most
common factors which, to some extents, hinder learners from mastering English
proverbs. Hopefully, this study will bring considerable effective contributions to
better understanding and using English proverbs. In my view, the sooner learners
can start to enjoy English proverbs in their new language, the better.
2. Objectives of the study
The objective of this study is to find out some common factors leading to
difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs.
3. Scope of the study
As there so many factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using
English proverbs, the study by no means investigates all factors concerned. Some
of factors are not included in this study. They are omitted simply because of
limitations of time, necessary, qualified and reliable resources, and of course the
knowledge of mine. Furthermore, exploring and mastering English proverbs is
quite a large field, I, therefore, limit my study in a smaller one “Towards better
understanding and using English proverbs’’. My study only looks for some

more clearly about the study and my task. I also consulted my friends in my
university and in some other universities. Discussion with them helped me
improve the feasibility and practicality of the study.
PART B: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER I:
LITERATURE REVIEW

The theoretical background and review of related literature will be
discussed under three subheadings: (I.1) Origin of proverbs, (I.2) Definitions of
proverbs, (I.3) Characteristics of proverbs
I.1. Origin of proverbs
“Where do proverbs come from?” is a question which is certainly still in

In the corresponding papers many definitions can be found. Professor
Mieder in one of his papers with admitted overstatement- puts that “We can
almost state that there are more definition attempts than there are proverbs”
(Mieder 1989, p.13.)
In the 12
th
century, Mathieu de Vend«me (quoted by Bautier 1984) wrote
“A proverb is a popular phrase, accredited by custom accepted by the general
opinion, expressing a truth that has been proved genuine”.
In 1932, Bertlett Jere Whiting gave the following description: “A proverb is
an expression which, owing its birth to people, testifies its origin in form and
phrase. It expresses what is apparently a fundamental truth, - that is a truism- in
homely language, often adorned, however, with alliteration and rhyme. It is
usually short, but need not to be; it is usually true but need not to be. Some
proverbs have both literal and figurative meaning, either of which makes perfect
sense; but more often they have but one of the two. A proverb must be venerable;
it must bear the sign of antiquity, and, since such signs may be counterfeited by a
clever literary man, it should be attested in different places and different times.”
(Whiting 1932. p. 302)
Many previous definitions are listed in Whiting‟s mentioned paper, in the
book of Lutz Rohrich and Wolfgang Mieder (Rohrich-Mieder 1972). 55
“popular” definitions have been collected by Wolfgang Mieder in 1985 and the
recent paper of Peter Barta should also be mentioned in this context. (Barta 1995)
If a classification of the proverb definitions is attempted, the following
main categories can be distinguished.
I.2.2.1. An open or implied denial of the possibility of defining proverbs
Archer Taylor states that “The definition of a proverb is too difficult to
repay the undertaking… an incommunicable quality tells us this sentence is
proverbial and that other is not”. (Taylor 1931)
Needless to say, such an incommunicable quality does not exist. In 1996,

idea) was stressed by Matti Kuusi (Kuusi 1996) and Vilmos Voigt (Voigt 1970).
The implied scope and limitation of application has been mentioned before
(Paczolay 1996. p.282).
I.2.2.3. More complex definitions
In addition to the definition of Whiting given previously, as examples some
definitions are mentioned that include several, sometimes frequent, but not
absolutely necessary characteristics, like poetic form, while important ones, like
currency or the absence of a known author are missing. Some examples: “A short
pithy saying in common and recognized use, a concise sentence often
metaphorical or alliterative in form, which is held to express some truth
ascertained by experience or observation familiar to all, an adage, a wise saw”.
(Whiting 1932)
 “A proverb is a popular set phrase having no author, known mostly in
different languages, expressing in one sentence a principle, advice, a genuine
or assumed truth in a general, concise form, its basic idea being of general
validity, or at least its user considers it as such”. (O. Nagy 1979. p.645)
A proverb is a stereotype linguistic entity expressing a fixed idea. On the
linguistic level it is an artistic picture, on the level of ideas a judgement. As a
work of art of folklore it belongs to the secondary semiotic systems. It is a
communication system with a double code, a carrier of information at the
level of language, but at the same time the information carries another content
too, becoming an instrument of poetic expression. (Voo 1989)
Proverbs are short, generally known sentences of the folk that contain
wisdom, truths, morals, and traditional views in a metaphorical, fixed and
memorizable form and that are handed down orally from generation to
generation. (Mieder 1996. p.597 )
A short well-known sentence or phrase that states a general truth about life
or gives advice. (A. S. Hornby- Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of
current English- Oxford University Press- 1995)
A proverb is a short sentence that people often quote and that gives advice or

dân gian Việt Nam- Tập II- NXB Giáo dục- 1990)
Literally translated: Proverb is a kind of folklore through which
peoples knowledge predictions, advices are experimentalized in such a
plain but meaningful, rhythmed, easy to remember and spread way of
saying.
Tục ngữ là những câu hoàn chỉnh, có ý nghĩa trọn
vẹn, nói lên một nhận xét về tâm lí, một lời phê
phán (khen hay chê), hoặc một câu khuyên nhủ, hoặc
một kinh nghiệm về nhận thức tự nhiên hay xã hội.
(Nguyễn Lân- Từ điển thành ngữ và tục ngữ Việt Nam-
NXB Khoa học xã hội- 1989)
Literally translated: Proverbs are complete sentences, with adequate
meaning, which can be a remark about peoples psychology, a comment
(either a compliment or a criticism), an advice or a knowledge about
nature or society.
Tục ngữ là những câu cực kì bình dị, chắc nịch răn
đời, bằng những điều luân lí sâu xa hoặc tổng kết
ngắn gọn những kinh nghiệm về công việc làm ăn.
(Hoàng Trinh- Đối thoại văn học- NXB Hà Nội- 1986)
Literally translated: Proverbs are simple sentences that may be either
teachings about life with profound ethics or briefly-summarized
experiences about jobs.
Tục ngữ là một câu nói ngắn gọn, có cấu trúc t-ơng
đối ổn định, có cách diễn đạt phúng dụ (ngụ ý) đúc
kết tri thức, kinh nghiệm sống và đạo đức của một
dân tộc. (Lê Đức Trọng- Từ điển giải thích thuật
ngữ ngôn ngữ học- NXB Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh- 1993)
Literally translated: Proverbs are short sayings with quite stable
structure and overtoned way of expression through which a nations
intellect, morality and view toward life are revealed.

Proverbs have a currency; they are known and often quoted in a small or
large region in one or several linguistic communities or in a part of such a
community. They may be known in several languages and continents, i. e. they
are internationally disseminated as Mieder put it (Mieder 1991. p.155.) but
sometimes they can be found only in one region or dialect of a linguistic
community. According to the size of the area where a proverb is known, we may
distinguish universal, regional (e. g. regional European, Far Eastern or Black-
African) and local proverbs (Pactrolay 1996).
Proverbs have a history; they “come and go” (Mielder 1991. p.155). Their
existence is related to a certain period of time (t), starting with the first known
use or recording. In historical terms, it is a “terminus ante quem” if no author can
be detected, e. g. if the first recording includes the remark: “… as the well-known
proverb puts it.” Part of the Biblical ones also belong to this category. It may also
be, however, that it is a “terminus post quem” if it is a folklorized quotation, like
“Time is money”. On the other hand it is also well known that several once
popular proverbs have fallen into oblivion or their use became restricted to one
region of the linguistic community.
On the level of abstraction (A) proverbs (pv) represent an abstract meaning
or abstract idea (AI) known to the users. In the case of metaphoric proverbs this
is implied. E. g. in case of proverb “Do not look at a gift horse in the mouth” it
may be “One should not criticize a present” or at a higher level of abstraction:
“In return for good will do not return an offence”. In case of maxim-type
proverbs this abstract idea is identical with the text of the proverb, like “Do as
you would be done by” or “Every beginning is hard”.
Due to the ignorance of the implied meaning (abstract idea), those who
know the text only, may misunderstand a proverb. E. g. a Hungarian proverb puts
that “It is better to fear than to be frightened (by surprise) – Jobb fÐlni, mint
megijedni- the meaning of which is the same as that of the English proverb
“Forewarned, forearmed”. Once somebody who knew only the text of the
proverb maintained that it is a bad proverb, as it is a bad thing to fear.

proverb). It has a currency (cr), i. e. it is well known and often quoted in a period
of time (t) in a certain small or large language community (lc) (or in a part of
the community), sometimes in a short form (the rest being implied). In common
knowledge it has no known author or literary source.
A short form of the definition: a proverb is a short standard statement,
having on evident or implied general meaning, related to a certain typical field of
general human conditions, attitudes or actions, where it is valid with implied
limitations. It is known and often quoted in a period of time in a certain language
community, sometimes in a short form (the rest being implied). In common
knowledge it has no known author or literary source.
A formal description:
pv = (short, standard statement)
cr,

t, lc
+ (implied general meaning)
hc
+
(implied field of validity) + (no known source)
 Note: If the definition is intended to include “special”, like agricultural,
weather, legal, medical etc. proverbs too, then the text should read:
…general or special human conditions, attitudes or actions, or other
conditions.
I.2.4. The main types of proverbs
It was mentioned previously that the proverbs may be metaphoric and
maxim type ones, to which proverbial phrases or comparisons can be added.
The mental process taking place during the application of metaphoric
proverbs (concrete-abstract-concrete), maxim-type proverbs (concrete-abstract)
and proverbial comparisons where the general idea is replaced by a general
characteristic (GC) like “of little value” (Not worth a straw), “flat” (Flat as a

cause and effect relationship, appearance and reality, related and unrelated
phenomena, human errors and virtues etc. The number of common proverbs is
greatly increased by cultural contacts, involving the appearance of loan-proverbs.

b

b
1

b
2
=pv

b

b
1

b b
1

b
2
=pv

In Europe, 106 proverbs were found to exist in 28 to 54 languages of the
continent, being present in all its main geographic regions. In Chinese, Korean

easily become close friends.
I.3.1.2. Function
Proverbs have the informing and educating function <bring people
knowledge, a lesson in life> but idioms do not have this function. They only
show an event. Lets have a quick look at the example below to understand more
clearly about this difference:
1. The idiom To put all ones eggs in one basket only tells an action
while the proverb Dont put all your eggs in one basket contains an
advice.
2. The idiom Bình chân nh- vại only shows an attitude but the
proverb Cháy nhà hàng xóm bình chân nh- vại means a
criticism and a reminder.
Briefly, content and function are two main criteria to distinguish proverbs
from idioms.
I.3.2. Differences between proverbs and ca dao
In English, there exists no kind of Folklore as ca dao. However, in
Vietnamese, sometimes it is very difficult to identify the bond of proverbs and
ca dao.
We can easily realize a proverb when it is a short and succinct sentence and
it lies on one line.
For example:
ở hiền gặp lành
Cha mẹ sinh con trời sinh tính
Tin bợm mất bò
ở sao cho vừa lòng ng-ời
But when the proverbs exist under the forms of the six-eight meters (a poem
in which the lines are alternatively of six and eight feet), the distinction is
generally very difficult as the characteristics of proverbs decrease much and the
characteristics of ca dao increase much. (According to Nguyễn Thái Hoà-
Cấu trúc và Thi pháp Việt Nam- Nxb Khoa học Hà Nội-

Better late than never Blood is thicker than water
<Muộn còn hơn không> <Một giọt máu đào hơn
ao n-ớc lã>
Càng đông, càng vui Ng-u tầm
ng-u, mã tầm mã
<The more, the merrier> <Birds of a feather flock together>
However, there are some long proverbs, which contain at least ten
words.
For example:
A man is as old as he feels and a woman is as old as she looks
<Đàn ông già là do cảm giác, đàn bà già
hiện trên nét mặt>
Siêng đi tát, nhác đi câu, muốn cho đầy bầu
thì đi nhủi.

Mây kéo xuôi cầm gầu tát n-ớc, mây kéo
ng-ợc cầm cuốc phá bờ
<No English equivalents>
However short or long it may be, each proverb is a sentence.
- Proverbs have a quite stable structure. They hardly change under any
circumstance.
- Proverbs are not only pithy but also poetical (they have rhyme and
overtoned way of expression).
I.4.2. Content:
Proverbs appear to have adequate meaning (through which peoples
knowledge, predictions, advice are experimentalized in such a plain but
meaningful way of saying).
For example:
English proverbs:
Birds of a feather flock together. (knowledge)

In English proverbs:
A remark:
Measure for measure
<Ăn miếng, trả miếng>
There is life in the cold dog yet
<Gừng càng già càng cay>
In Vietnamese proverbs:
A remark:
Ch-a học bò đã lo học chạy
<Learn to walk before you run>
Thùng rỗng kêu to
<An empty vessel gives a greater sound than a full barrel>
In English proverbs:
A prediction:
He who laughs best is last.
<C-ời ng-ời chớ có c-ời lâu
C-ời ng-ời hôm tr-ớc hôm sau ng-ời
c-ời>
Diamond cuts diamond.
<Vỏ quýt dày có móng tay nhọn>
In Vietnamese proverbs:
A prediction:
Sinh sự, sự sinh.
<Dont trouble trouble till trouble troubles you>
Dễ đến, dễ đi.
<Easy come, easy go>
- Proverbs also have educational function (they give out ethics, advice or
morals)
For example:
English proverbs:

Above all, Trần Ngọc Thêms definition (in Vietnamese Culture -
1999) is believed to be the most complete one. It is an organic system of material
and spiritual values created and stored up by human beings during the process of
practical activities in the contact between them and their own natural as well as
social environment.
It should be mentioned that there is a close relationship between proverbs
and culture, maintaining they were inextricably related so that you could not
understand or appropriate the one without knowledge of the other.
The word culture has a very broad meaning. Here, we only analyse some
aspects of it related to proverbs.
II.1.2. Differences between English culture and Vietnamese culture
All cultures have certain things in common, in other words, all cultures
have similarities. These similarities may deal with the material aspects of life,
such as shelter or they may involve such non- material activities as maintaining a
government or creating myths. In a recent study, Tr-ơng Ngọc Khanh in
An investigation on some cultural differences on social contacts between
Vietnam and some countries it has relations with shows that elements common
to all cultures include: (1) technology, (2) institutions, (3) languages and (4) the
arts.
Besides, differences also exist as a- matter- of- course cross- cultural
factors. And these differences are exactly one of the factors leading to difficulties
in understanding and using English proverbs of Vietnamese intermediate students
of English.
Why do differences exist as a matter of course cross cultural
factors? The answer is simple and clear. People of different countries differ
greatly from each other. Moreover, different regions in the same country are
made up of people with their own customs, conventions and also beliefs that
differ from each other greatly. This results in the fact that there is a big variety in
culture among countries in the world.
There are two main types of culture. They are agricultural and nomadic

expression. The Oxford Advanced Learner‟s Dictionary defines “metaphor” the
imaginative use of a word or a phrase to describe somebody or something as
another object in order to show that they have the same qualities and to make the
description more forceful.
And Nguyen Hoa, in his “An Introduction to Semantics”, shows
“metaphor” is the transference of meaning name” from one object to another
based on similarity between these two “objects” i. e. we can call one object by
the name of another because we compare these objects and find some common
features between them. This is the association of similarity.
For example, a cunning person is often referred to a fox; an aggressively
and unpleasantly behaving woman is as a bitch- a female dog used with negative
connotations.
In short, in a metaphor, no function words are used; something is described
by stating another thing with which it can be compared.
It can be withdrawn from those mentioned above that in a metaphor,
symbolism is the way one thing (often concrete) is said to imply one other thing.
Fox is just a symbol for one person‟s characteristic instead of saying that person
is cunning, secretly tricky. It is symbolism that makes metaphor a lively and
beautiful art of expression by word.
Hence, most proverbs choose metaphor expression. Many animals and
things exist in proverbs instead of human beings and their feelings. Many
proverbs of this kind can be seen:
In Vietnamese:
Ng-u tầm ng-u, mã tầm mã
It means that those who share the same opinions, in lifestyles, will easily
become friends.
Gừng càng già càng cay
It means the old are the most experienced.
Một giọt máu đào hơn ao n-ớc lã
It means brothers are always dearer and closer than friends and neighbours.