Stylistic classification of the english vocabulary

b) Proverbs and Sayings

The second type of set expressions are proverbs and sayings. Proverbs and sayings nave linguistic features

which distinguish them from ordinary sentences.

Proverbs are brief statements which show in a condensed form the accumulated life experience of the so­ciety. They are usually short familiar epigrammatic say­ings, expressive and have generalized meaning. They are also image bearing. They express the wisdom of the pe­ople and never lose their freshness and vigour. E.g.:

"Better late than never"; "Out of sight, out of mind"; "He laughs best, who laughs last"; "A great ship asks deep waters".

Proverbs have much in common with set expressions because their lexical components are also constant, their meaning is traditional and mostly figurative, and they are introduced into speech ready-made.

Proverbs and sayings may be handled not in their fixed, traditional forms but with some modifications. E.g.:

"Marriages are made in Heaven" (a fixed or traditional form); "Divorces are made in Heaven" (a modified form)-, "If war breaks out" (a traditional form)-, "If peace breaks out" (a modified form).

This device is used not only in the belles-lettres style. Here is an example from a newspaper. E.g.:

"The waters will remain sufficiently troubled for somebody's fishing to be profitable" (from "It is good fishing in troubled waters").

A saying is a common phrase differing from proverb in that the thought is not so completely expressed ere. E.g.:

"To fish in troubled waters"; "To kill two birds with one stone"; "To teach old dogs new tricks".

Very often English proverbs and sayings are alliterated. Euphony and expressiveness are achieved by the repetition of the same sound in a number of words. E.g.:

"Cool as a cucumber"; "Good as gold";

"Curio-sity killed a cat".

Usually English proverbs and sayings are rhythmi­cally arranged and rhymed. E.g.:

"Eat at pleasure, drink with measure"; "A friend in need is a friend indeed. "

Proverbs and sayings are mostly used by writers in the direct speed of characters to individualize their spe­ech, and also as laconic, expressive and emotional ready- made phrases. They are often used in the speech of cha­racters and the author's narrative to clarity and conform the thought. E.g.:

"In this conflict we are the challengers. You have the choice of weapons. If you choose scandal, we'll take you on at that. No good will come of washing our dirty linen in public". (B. Shaw).

Their literal meaning is suppressed by transferred meaning.

The efficient use of proverbs and sayings will make both spoken and written language emotional, concrete, figurative and lively:

"Cat was almost out of the bag when I grabbed it by its tail and pulled it back" (the proverb is "Cat is out of the bag").