浅谈英语谚语的起源、功效及其修辞 12页

浅谈英语谚语的来源、功能及其修辞.txt我很想知道，多少人分开了，还是深爱着。、自己哭自己笑白己看着白己闹。你用隐身来躲避我、我用隐身来成全你！待到一口权在手，杀尽天下负我狗。浅谈英语谚语的來源、功能及英修辞林碧媛[Abstract]Proverbs,incolorfulandvividlanguage,reflectimportanttypicalculturalvaluesofeveryculture.Simpleandpopular,conciseandpithy,theyarepassedonfromgengerationtogenerationinthereadableoralformandhavegraduallybecomeacomponentindispensabletothedominantcultureofthatnation.Thispapercontainsthreeparts:thesourcesofEnglishproverbs、thefunctionsofEnglishproverbsandtherhetoricaldevicesofEnglishproverbs.Firstly,itintroducesthesourcesofEnglishproverbs・Proverbshavealonghistory.Theyarebriefandwel1-polishedexpressionsembeddedinphilosophicalideasconcerningdifferentaspectsof1ife・Theyarethesummaryofpeopleexperieneeineverydaylife,sotheyoriginatedfrompeople"sdaily1ifeandexperience.Tobespecific,theycomefromfolklife,religion,mythology,literaryworks,otherlanguages,famouswriters"wisdom,anation"shistoryandsoon.Secondly,itmentionsthefunctionofEnglishproverbs・Itsfunctionistoteachandadvisepeoplewhattheyseeintheir1ives.ManyEnglishproverbsguidepeopletoadoptacorrectattitudetowardslifeandtotakeaproperwaytogetalongwellwithothers・Someotherproverbstellpeoplewhattodoandhowtodoit,sotheproverbsguidepeople，sdailylife.Fromthem,peoplemaybroadentheirknowledgeandoutlook・Thirdly,itdescribestheirrhetoricaldevices.Englishproverbsarerichandcolorful.WithregardtotheeverlastingcharmoftheEnglishproverbs,therearemanydifferentreasons.Themostimportantoneistheextensiveuseofrhetoricaldevicesandrhythmaticalways,sotheirlanguagcisfullofimageandvividnessandhasastrongartisticbeautyandpower・[KeyWords]Englishproverbs；sources；functions；rhetoricaldevices【摘要】谚语丰富多彩，生动隽永，反映了每个民族追崇的重要而独特的文化价值观。谚语简单通俗，精辟凝练，尤其以朗朗的II语形态承传沿用，渐渐成为民族主流文化不可缺少的一部分。这篇论文包含三个部分：英语谚语的来源，英语谚语的功能及其修辞。第一部分是介绍英语谚语的来源，英语谚语源远流长，是人类日常生活经验的结晶。它来源于日常生活与经验,确切地说，来源于民间生活，宗教，神话，文学著作，其他语言，名人名言以及国家历史等。第二部分是介绍英语谚语的功能，谚语的功能是教育和指导人们在日常生活中所遇到的情况，同时它们引导人们采取正确的态度対待牛活。从谚语中，人们可以拓宽自己的知识面，避免出错，具有敏锐的观察力的人从屮受益非浅。笫三部分是介绍英语谚语的修辞：英语谚 语丰富多彩，具冇永恒的魅力，其原因Z—就是应用了大虽的修辞格和押韵方法，这就使谚语更形象，生动并具有强烈的艺术美和感染力。【关键词】英语谚语；來源；功能；修辞格1.IntroductionProverbsareshortsayingsoffolkwisdomofwell-knownfactsortruthscompendiousexpressedandinawaythatmakesthemeasytoremember・Becausetheproverbsaresobrief,theyhaveuniversalappeal.Manypeoplelovetopickupproverbs.Theuseofoneortwointheoriginallanguageisoftenaminorvictoryforthebeginningforeignlanguagelearners.Proverbsmayprovideinterestinglittleglimpsesorcluestoapeople"sgeography,history,socialorgani/ation,socialviews,andattitudes・Peoplewholivealongseacoastsandwhoselivelihoodisdependentontheseawillhaveproverbsaboutsailing,aboutbravingtheweather,aboutfishandfishing.Tncultureswhereoldageisrevered,therewillbeproverbsaboutthewisdomoftheelders.Andinsocietieswherewomen"sstatusislow,therewillbeanumberofsayingsdemeaningthem・Proverbstel1muchaboutapeoplestraditionalwaysofexperiencingreality,abouttheproperorexpectedwaysofdoingthings,aboutvaluesandwarnings,andrulesandwisdomstheelderswanttoimpressonthemindsoftheiryoung.Theimportantcharacterofproverbs"theshorterthebetter"makesiteasytocommitthemtomemoryforreadyrecal1whentheoccasioncalIsforseriousorhumorouscommontorwarning.Createdbypeopleinhighandlowstatus,humblefolkandgreatauthors,borrowedfromancientorneighboringcultures,proverbshavebeenaccumulatingovermanycenturies.Someareonlylocallyknownmanyaresharedaroundtheworld.IfonewantstohavebetterknowledgeofEnglishculture,heshouldbefamiliarwiththesourcesandfunctionsofEnglishproverbs.2.ThesourcesofEnglishproverbs2.1OriginatingfromfolklifeProverbsarethesummaryofpeopleexperienceintheireverydaylife.Thesummarizedexperieneoandreasonareabstractedfromthepracticeofpeople"sIifeandwork・Theyexpresspeople"ssimpleandhealthythoughts,feelingsandsentiments.Moreoftenthannot,itrevealsauniversaltruthfromaparticularpointsoastoenlightenpeople.Agreatnumberofproverbswerecreatedbyworkingpeoplesuchasseamen,huntors,farmers,workmen,housewivesandcooksandsoon,usingfami1iartermsthatwereassociatedwiththeirowntradesandoccupations.Forexample,Livingwithouttheaimis1ikesailingwithoutacompasswasfirstusedbyseamenIfyourunaftertwohares,youwillcatchneitherbyhuntersAprilrainsforcorn,May,forgrassbyfarmersNewbroomsweepscleanbyhousewivesandToomanycooksspoilthebrothbycooks,etc.Suchexpressionswereal1colloquialandinformalandonceconfinedtoalimitedgroupofpeopleengagedinthesametradeoractivity・Buttheywereprovedtobevivid,andforcibleandstimulating,solatertheybrokeoutoftheirboundsandgraduallygainedwideacceptance.Asaresult,theirearlystylisticfeatures 『adedinsomewayandmanyhavecometobecomepartofthecommoncoreoflanguage,nowbeingusedindifferentoccasions.Someproverbsarerelatedtosomefolkpracticeandcustoms.Forexample,Goodwineneedsnobush.[1]ThisproverbisfromanancientpopularEnglishpractice.Inthepast,Englishwinemerchantstendedtohangsomeivybushesorapictureofivybushesontheirdoorsasasymbolofwineselling・Butsomemcrchant?swinewassogoodthatitcan"tbeignoredwithoutsign.Thisinfactshowsthepastcommonpracticethatmerchantsofdifferenttradeswou1dhangdifferentparticularthingsassignstragedieswouldbefal1onher.Becauseofthiscustom,EnglishpeoplehavegotaproverbHappyisthebridethatsunshineson.[2]ThisproverboriginatedfromthecommonpracticeinancientChina.Inthepast,younggirlsdidthavetherighttodecidewhomtomarry.Theirparemshadthefinaldecisionintheirmarriage.fortheirgoods-Anotherexampleisinvolvedwithpeople"thatiftheweatherwerefineandsunnyprobablyenjoyahappymarriagelife・sweddingpractice.Englishpeoplebelievedonagirl-weddingday,thegirlwou1dmostOtherwise,allsortsofmisfortunesandUsually,theparentswouldaskamatchmakerforhelp・Thematchmakerwentbetweentwofamiliesandpassedonthemessages.Final1y,thegirlsparentsmadethefinaldecisionwhetherthegirlwouldmarrythechosenboyornot・Thisisknownasarrangedmarriage・Suchamarriage,moreoftenthannot,wouldleadthecoupletoanunhappylife・Becausetheyseldomorevenncversaweachotherbefore,theyknewevenlittleabouttheotherparty^sbehaviorormanners,letalonehis/herpersonalityorvirtues・Itwasoftenbeyondthecouple，shopestoenjoyahappymarriage.Someproverbscamefromancientpeopledeeplyrootedbeliefssuchastheirsuperstitioustendencyandbelief・Inthepast,Englishpeoplebelievedthatifapersonspoiledsaltfromthesaltbottle,misfortuneandbadluckwouldfollow・Thenthispersonmustscatterthespoi1edsaltfromtheir1eftshoulderssoastodriveofftheirillluck.Inturn,EnglishpeoplehavegottheproverbHelpmetosaltandyouhelpmetosorrow.[3]Someproverbscomefrompeople"sdistinctionbetweensexessuchastheirdiscriminationagainstwomcn・Itcomesfromadeeplyrootedtraditionalviewpoint.SuchasThreewomenandagoosemakeamarketLonghairandshortwitThemorewomenlookintheirglass,thelesstheylooktotheirhouse.2.2OriginatingfromreligionBibleisessentialforBritishandAmericancultures.ItissaidthattheirculturesarenotintegratedwithoutBible.ItissafetosaythatBibleinfluenceseveryaspectofitsdisciples"life.Consequently,manysayingsandsentencesinBiblehavebeenpopularlyaccepted.Theyhavebeendeeplyrootedamongpeopleandpeoplefrequentlyusethemtociteatruthorexpresstheirideaswithoutpayinganyattentiontotheiroriginsanymore.ThesesayingsarenoIongeronlyconfinedtoreligionandtheyhavebecomeproverbswhichreflectEnglishpeoplereligiousfaithsuchasEverymanmustcarryhisowncrossThisproverbisfromBible,Matthew,onthegroundsofMatthew,themainideaislikethis:“Asthesoldierswentout,theycameuponamanfrom CyrenonamcdSimontheycompelledthismantocarryJesus"cross.AndwhontheycametoaplacecalledGolgotha(whichmeansPlaceofaskull),theyofferedJesuswinetodrink,mixedwithgallbutwhenhetastedit,hewouldnotdrinkit.Andwhentheyhadcrucifiedhim,theydividedhisclothesamongthemselvesbycastinglotsthentheysatdownthereandkeptwatchingoverhim.Overhisheadtheyputthechargeagainst,whichread,“ThisisJesus,thekingoftheJews・””[4]Fromthis,wecanknowthatcrossmeanssufferings.Theproverbtendstotellusthateveryoneshouldputupwithmiseryindaily1ifeandundertakethelife"sburden.AnotherproverbisalsofromtheBible:Onedoesn"tliveonlybybread・ItisfromtheBible,Deuteronomy,thegeneralideais:"RemembertheIongwaythattheLordyourGodhasledyouthesefortyyearsinthewilderness,inordertohumbleyou,testingyoutoknowwhatwasinyourheart,whetherornotyouwouldkeephiscommandments.Hehumbledyoubylettingyouhunger,thenbyfeedingyouwithManna,withwhichneitheryounoryourancestorswereacquaintod,inordertomakeyouunderstandthatonodoesnot1ivebybreadalone,butbyeverywordthatcomesfromthemouthoftheLord.”[5]Fromthis,wecanknowthatmaterialisnottheonlythingthatisindispensabletomen.Spiritisalsoveryimportant.Isoneisonlysearchedformaterial,hewillbeconsideredasanimals,forthemostdistinctivecharacteristicbetweenmenandanimalsisthatmenhavepursuitofspiritbutanimalshavon，t・Manyimagesintheseproverbshavedidacticmeanings.EnglishpeoplebelieveinChristianity,whichisbyfarthemostinfluentialreligioninthewest.Everyaspectofman"slifeistouchedbythisreligion,sothatithasbecomepartofwesternculture.AndtheBible,whichineludestheOldTestamentandtheNewTestament,isregardedasthescriptures.AlmosteveryfamilyhasaversionofBible,soithascometobeoneofthemajorsourcesofEnglishculture・ManyEnglishproverbsshowthedoctrinesoftheirreligion.Forexample,Letnotthylefthandknowwhatthyrighthanddoeth.[6]AccordingtothedoctrinesofBible:allhumanbeingsarebrothersandsisters,andtheyshouldhelpeachother.Sowhenyougivehandstoothers,neverkeepthememorythatyouhavehelpedthem・Anotherexample,Iftheblindleadtheblind,bothshallfallintotheditch.[7]Itimpliesthatifonehaslittleknowledge,itisdifficultforhimtoteachotherssomeusefulthings.Evenifhetriedtohelpothers,hewoulddonothinggoodtothem.3Originatingfrom1iteraryworksManyEnglishproverbsinvolveeventsorcharactersofEnglish1iterature,especiallyfromShakespeare.Shakespeare"sinsightintohumanbeings,hissensitivitytotheproblemofstate,andhisgeniuswithwordshaveleftaneverlastingmarkontheEnglishlanguageandthethinkingofEnglish-speakingpeopleallovertheworld.NativespeakersofEnglishquotehisworkseveryday,oftcnwithoutrealizingtheyaredoings()・Althoughhisplayswerewrittenoverthreehundredyearsago,manyEnglishproverbsfromhisplaysarecitedcommonlyindai1yEnglish.Shakespeare?sworksareprobablythemostcolorfulIiteratureoriginofproverbs・Forexample,Al1isnotgoldthatglitters.ThisproverbisfromthegreatworksofShakespeare TheMerchantsofVenice.Itshowsusthatthosewhohaveagoodappearancearenotreallylearned.Soweshouldbecarefulnottobedeceivedbythosewhoaresuperficiallyflashybutwithoutsubstance.Anotherexample,Patienceperforceismedicineforamaddog[8]isfromShakespeare"sworksAntonyandCleopatra・Ittellsusthatthosewhocarmotendureanythingwouldlosehistemperlikesamaddog・ManyEnglishproverbsarealsofromTheFablesofAesop.Theseproverbsareveryconciseandhumorous,andtheyreflecttheesseneeandthetruemeaningoflife.Itisveryeasyforpeopletounderstandthemandtoputthemintopractice・Manyofthemarepasseddowntilltoday.Forexample,Thecamelgoingtoseekhorns,losthisears.[9]Thegeneralideaoftheallusionis:且cowshowedoffhishornsinfrontofacamel.Thecamelwasenviousofcow"shorns,soherequestedZeustogiveapairofhornstohim.Zeuswasveryangry,becausehethoughtthatthecamelwasgreedytoaskforhornswithhissohugebody・Atlast,hemadeadecisionthatheletthecamelhavehornsbutwiththecostofcuttingoffapartofhisears.Thisproverbtel1susthatifoneisgreedytooccupyeverything,hewillbepunishedbyhisgreed.AnotherproverbisalsofromtheFablesofAesop・“Thegrapesaresour”,asthefoxsaidwhenhecouldnotreachthem.[10]Theallusion,whichthisproverbcamefrom,isgenerallylikethis:oneday,ahungryfoxsawalotofripegrapeshangingonthegrapevine.Hebeathisbrainshardbutcouldnotfindawaytopickthegrapes.Thehungrierhefelt,theangrierhegot.Finally,hegaveup.Inordertocomforthimself,“Thegrapesaresour",thefoxsaidwhilewalkingaway.Nowadays,peoplewidelyuseittoexpressthatsomeonewhowantstotakeholdofsomethingwithallhiseffortbutfailstogetitwilllowerthevalueofthisthing・Therearealsootherproverbs,suchas:Abarleycornisbetterthanadiamondtoacock.[11]Theallusion"smainideais:whenahungrycockwassearchedforfood,hesawadiamond.Thecocksaidtothediamond:"Tosomeonewhoadmiresyou,youareapreciousthingbuttome,youhavenovalueatall,forallvaluablethingcannotmatchwithabarley-corn.”Indeed,accordingtoourcommonsense,adiamondisfarmorevaluablethanabarley-corn.Buttoahungryman,especiallytosomeonewhoneedsgrainsbadly,hewouldchoosegrainsbutnottreasure,fortreasurecannotsatisfyhisstomach・Sothisproverbtendstoimplythatdifferentpeoplehavedifferentviewsnothesamething.Thesubmittingtoonewrongbringsonanother.[12]Theallusion,whichthisproverbcamefrom,isgenerally1ikethis:asnakewasoftenriddendownbypeople,sohecomplainedittoZeus.Zeustoldhimthatifhebitsomeonewhofirstlytrampledonhim,thenextonewouldnottramplehim.Itshowsthatifoneputupwiththemistakehemadeatthefirsttime,hewillmakeanothersimilarmistake.Soweshouldgainalessonfromtheaboveallusionsoastoavoidmakingthesamemistakes.2.4OriginatingfromGreekandRomanmythology^WesternorsareheirstoGreco-Romancivi1ization.ManyidoasnowprevailinginwesterncountriescanbetracedbacktothethinkersinancientGreeceandRoman.GreekandRomanmythoiogiesarewel1knowninthewestandhavebeardonastronginflueneeuponpeople"s livesinwesterncountries.ItisnaturalthatitbecomesacommonsourceofEnglishproverbs.”[13]SomeproverbsarefromGreekandRomanmythology.Eachofthemhasanallusion.Forexample,TheDeviltoohasAchilles"heel.[14]AccordingtotheHomer,wecanknow:Achi1leswasaGreekhero.Excepthisheel,everypartofAchi1les"bodyisswordproof,sohisheelishisfataldefect.TheproverbtellsusthateventheDevilhashisweakness.Nomanisabsolutelypowerfu1・ThereisasimilarexamplefromRomanmythology.NotevenHerculescouldcontendagainsttwo.[15]Hercules,asonofZeus,wasaheroinRomanmythology.Hehadincredibleforce,whichhelpedhimgaintwelveheroicachievements-Althoughhewaspowerfulenough,hecouldn"tdefeatalargenumberofenemiesonhisown.Sotheproverbstellsusthatman,senergyislimitednomatterhowpowerfulheis.Anotherexample,withoutCeresandBacchus,Venusgrowscold・[16]CeresisRomangoddessofgrainandagricultureBacchusistheGreetgodofwineVenusisthegoddessofbeautyandlove・Fromthis,wecanknowthatCeresandBacchusstandforbasicnecessityof1ife.Sotheproverbtendstoexpressthatlovecan"tbesweetwithoutmaterialsupport.OriginatingfromotherlanguagesWiththedevelopmenlofsociety,aIanguagecannotavoidcontactingwithotherlanguages.Tnthecontact,thecertain1anguagesurelyabsorbssomeproverbsfromothers.Withalonghistory,EnglishlanguageborrowedalargenumberofproverbswidelyfrommanyotherlanguagesincludingGreek,Latin,German,Italian,Spanish,Dutch,Hebrew,Arabic,Chinese,andotherlanguages,amongwhichLatin,GreekandFrenchprovidetherichestnutrition.MostoftheborrowedproverbsinEnglish,duetotheremotenessoftime,havealreadyassimilatedormergedintotheEnglishlanguagewiththeirtracesalmostimpossibletofollow.ManyEnglishproverbsoriginatedfromFrench・[17]William,DukeofNormandy,France,landedhismightyarmyatPevensyanddefeatedSaxonkingHarold,smonnearHastings・WilliamwascrownedaskingofEngland,andthenheopeneddoorstothecontinentandextendedcultureandcommercialrelationswithFrance.Norman-Franceculture,languageandarchitecturewereintroduced.TheconquerorsruledEnglandinalongperiodoftime,andmostofthegovernorsusedFrenchastheirformallanguage.AlthoughEnglandfinallywonhersovereignty,thereweresti11manyborrowedwordsfromFraneeremained.Especially,EnglishpeopleacceptedmanyFrenchsayings.Forexample,Don，tputthecartbeforethehorseVentureasmal1fishtocatchagreatoneIfthelion"sskincannot,thefox"sshall.ManyEnglishproverbscamefromLatin.[18]BecauseoftheintroductionofChristianityintoBritain,theinfluenceoftheNormanConqucstandtheRenaissanceonEnglish,LatinwordshadmadetheirwayintotheEnglishlanguage・AmongtheseLatinwordstherealsoineludedmanyproverbs,whichgainedwideacceptanceofEnglishpeople.Suchas:FortunefavorsthebraveHewhosayswhathelikes,shallhearwhathedoesnot1ikeIfeartheGreeks,evenwhenbringinggiftsThereisnorulewithoutanexceptionandsooruOriginatingfromfamouswriters"wisdomFamouswritersprovidedoneoftherichestsourcesforEnglishproverbs,whichisonlynexttotheproverbsoffolkorigin.Wealsocansaythatmostproverbs,regardlessoftheirinitial,havebeenpolishedandpreservedandpopularizedbyfamouswritersintheirworks・ItisgenerallyagreedthatsuchfamouswritersasBacon,Pope,Frank!inandsooncontributedquite alottothecreation,preservationandpopularizationofEnglishproverbs.BaconisadistinguishedEnglishphilosopherandwriter・Heisnotedforastyleofthoroughexpositionandalternativemaxims.ManysentencesinBacon，sworkshavebecomegoldensayingandprevailedamongpeople・Forexample,Readingmakesafullmantel1speoplethatonlybyreadingcanapersonbecome1earnedandprofound.AnotherproverbKnowledgeispoweremphasizestheimportanceofknowledgeandencouragespeopletostudymoreandlearnmore.PopeisanothercelebratedfigureinEnglish1iterature.Heemphasizesoducationandknowledgeverymuch・Somesentencesfromhisworkshavebeenacceptedbythereadersandbecomedeeplyrootedamongpeople.TakeAlittlelearningisadangerousthingforexample.ThisdidacticproverbisasenteneeinPopeAnEssayonCriticismanditreflectshisideasaboutknowledgeandlearning.BenjaminFranklinisafamousAmericanstatesman,scientistandwriter.Manysayingsfromhisworkswerewidelyacceptedandenlightenpeople・Forexample,Littlestrokefel1greatoaks.[19]Tttel1susthatonenevergivinguppursuingknowledge,becauseonlythosewhoarestrong-mindedcanbehighlyintellectual.Anotherexample,Godhelpthemthathelpthemselves.[20]Ittendstotellusthatsolongasonevaluesself-relianeeandindependence，hecancreateopportunities,seekcompetitionandbereadyfortherisks.ThefunctionofEnglishproverbsThefunctionsofEnglishproverbsarethattheyexpresssomerulesofconductandquiteoftenconveysomeadviceorcounsel.Inotherwords,mostEnglishproverbspossessphilosophicdepthorinstructivefunction.ForthousandsofyearstheyhavebeeninstructingandinspiringEnglishpeople,sotheyhavebeenregardedastheguidelineofpeople"sthoughtsanddeeds,whichmeansEnglishpeoplearethinkingordoingthingsbyfollowingthedirectionoftheirproverbseitherconsciouslyorunconsciously.Englishproverbshavebecomeanimportantsourcesofinspirationjustbecausetheycontaintruth,wisdom,counsel,ruleofconduct,etc.FollowingwillmentiontwofunctionsofEnglishproverbs.3.1ThefunctiontoadviseSomeproverbsareintendedtopersuadeandteachpeople.Topersuadeistopraisejustice,tofightagainstthebully.Toteachistoguidepeopletoadoptacorrectattitudetowardslife,totakeaproperwaytogetalongwellwithothers.Forexample,BetterdiewithhonorthanlivewithshameDon"thavecloaktomakewhenitbeginstorain.Suchproverbssoundveryfirmandresoluteandtheycanstrengthenpeopleconvictionandawakenpeopleconsciousnossoflifeorbettertheirthinkingmethods.Theyareveryhelpfulforpeopletomakedistinctionbetweenrightandwrong,tobeclearaboutwhattoloveandwhattohate.Becausetheyaregoodforpeople，sself-cultivationandtheycancallfordeepthought,manypeopletaketheseproverbsastheirlifemotto.Someotherproverbsrevealandcriticizethedarksideoftheagesorsociety.Theyattackthedirtypracticesofthesocietysoastoremindpeopletokeepconsciousandmaintainsharpwarning.Forexample,Thefoxchangeshisskin,butnothishabitAleopardcannotchangeitsspots-Peopletendtorecitesuchproverbswhentheyaredisclosingtheevilinthesocietyorwhentheyareremindingotherstokeepalert.2.2Thefunctiontospreadexperiencesandknowledge Manyproverbssummarizeknowledgeofpeople"sdai1y1ifesuchasThebestwinecomesoutofanoldvesselSoftfiremakessweetmalt.Aspeople"sdailylifeiscomplicatedandextremelytrifling,suchproverbsarenumerous.Theysummarizepeople"sknowlcdgointheir1ifeandtheytel1peoplewhattodoandhowtodoit.Theyarejust1ikeanencyclopediatoguidepeople"sdaily1ife.Fromthem,peoplemaybroadentheirknowledgeandoutlooksoastoavoidmakingmistakes.Someproverbsofthistypeareconcernedwithaparticularfield,likefarmerproverbsandmeteorologicalproverbs-Peasantsofdifferentages,intheiroveryears"work,practiceandprovethefarmingexperieneoandproductiverules・Fromgeneraliontogenoration,theysumuptheirexperienceandthefarmingrulesintosomevivid,conciseandlivelysentences・Thesesentencesarefarmerproverbsandtheyarepracticedandtestifiedyearafteryearandtheyhavebeenprovedtrueandaccurate.Theyreflectthepeasants"farmingexperienceandagriculturallawandshowtheworkingpeople"swisdoni・Farmerproverbsareapreciousandvaluablepartofagriculturaldata・Peasantsofdifferentageshavesomeofthemasguideintheirfarming・Andmeteorologicalproverbs,whichsummarizethefundamentalmeteorologicalknowledgeofgenerations,arealsoabighelpinpeoplelife.Forexample,AprilshowersbringforthMayflowersAcoldMayandawindymakesafullbarnandafinelyDryAugustandwarmdoesharvestnoharmAfairdayinwinteristhemotherofastormAmistymorningmayhaveafinedayCloudymorningsturntoclearevenings.4-TherhetoricaldevicesofEnglishproverbsIfwesaythephilosophicorinstructiveaspectofEnglishproverbsisagoodhelptothepeople,thenwecanalsosaythattheartisticoraestheticaspectofEnglishproverbsisaccelerantthatattractspeople，sattentiontomakeful1useofthem.Englishproverbsarealwaysterse,figurativeandwithpleasantsoundeffect,whichmakethemeasytomemorizeandpleasanttoears.FollowingwewilldiscusstherhetoricaldevicesofEnglishproverbs.4.1Repetition(1)Soundinbody,soundinmind・(2)Fools1earnnothingfromwisemen,butwisemen1earnmuchfromfools. (1)Oneboyisaboy,twoboyshalfaboy,threeboysnoboy.(2)Awisemanthinksal1thathesaysafoolsaysal1thathethinks.Fromtheaboveexamples,wecanfindthattherepeatedwordorideahasareinforcingeffect・Withtherepetitionofthesamewordinclosesuccession,wemaynoticethatthemainpointofthesentencebecomesclear・Itcanalsobeusedtoexpressstrongemotionandgiveusanaestheticfeelin£andasenseoflogicalprogressionofideas.[21]2.2Phonology2.2.1Al1iteration(3)Hewhomakesconstantcomplaintsgetslittlecompassion.(4)Afairfacemayhideafoulheart.(5)Thefairestflowerssoonestfade.(6)Timeandtidewaitfornoman.Fromtheaboveexamples,wecanfindthattheseproverbsarevividwithrhythm.Becauseofrhythm,alliterationisagreathelptomemory.Itcancatchtheattentionofthereadersandmaketheideaimpresseddeeplyonthereaders,sotheproverbsareeasiertoremember.(14)Consonance(7)Inyouththehoursaregolden,andinmatureyearstheyaresilvern,andinoldagetheyareleaden.(8)Hopeforthebest,preparefortheworst.(9)Wherelovefails,weespyallfaults.Fromtheabove-mentioned,consonancemakestheproverbsmorerhythmicandmoreappealing.Itisalsogoodforsoundrhyme,musicaleffectandsignificantemphasis.2.2.3Assonance(10)Wheretheneedlegoes,thethreadfollows.(13)Whothatinyouth,novirtueuses,inoldal1honorhimrefuses.Afriendinneedisafriendindeed.Therepetitionoftheabovevowelproducesmusicalrhythmandsoundeuphony.4.3Comparison3.1Single(15)Marchcomesinlikea1ionandgoesoutlikea1amb.(16)Truefriendshipislikesoundhealth,thevalueofwhichisseldomknownuntilitbelost.(17)Alambisasdearasdearastoapoormanasanoxtotherich・Aswecanseefromtheaboveexamples,simi1eexplainsabstract,complicatedideasinsimpleandconcreteway. 4.3.2Metaphor(15)Moneyisagoodservantbutabadmaster.(16)Knowledgeisatreasurebutpracticeisthekeytoit.(17)Hopeisthepoorman"sbread.Aswecanseefromtheaboveexamples,animpliedcomparisonbetweentwodifferentthingsthatshareatleastoneattributeincommon.4.3.3Metonymy(18)A1ightheart1iveslong.(19)Asoftanswerturnedawaywrath.(20)Anironhandinavelvetglove・(21)Aclosemouthcatchesnoflies・Aswecanseefromtheaboveexamples,uniikesimile,thecomparisoninmetaphorisimp!ied.Itrequiresgreaterabi1ityonthepartofthereadertomakeoutthehiddenassociationorinsight,sometaphorisgenerallymorecomplicatedandmoreinvolvedthansimile.Theaboveproverbsenrichandstrengthenthereader"soxistingassociationandbringingaboutgreaterrhetoricaleffectivencss.[22]4.3PersonificationInanimateobjectspersonalizing(22)Wallhasears.(23)Moneymakesthemarego.(24)Thepotcallsthekettieblack.Animalspersonalizing(25)Thefoxknewtoomuch,that"showhelosthistail.(26)Nightingaleswillnotsinginacage.(27)Thetortoisewinstheracewhilethehareissleeping・(28)Twosparrowsononeearofcornmakeanillagreement.4.4・3Plantspersonalizing(29)Agreattreeattractsthewind.(30)Asingleflowerdoesnotmakeaspring・Abstractideaspersonalizing(31)Truthconquersallthings<(32)Opportunityseldomknockstwice.(33)Virtuedwe11snotinthetonguebutintheheart・Tntheaboveproverbs,thereareincludingthreepartsofpersonification.Usingpersonificationmakestheproverbsmorevividandmoreattractive.Itcanimpressthereadersdeeply.4.5Parallel(34)Inforapenny,inforapound.(35)Inyouththehoursaregolden,andinmatureyearstheyaresilvern,andinoldagetheyareleaden.(36)Theleastsaid,thesoonestmended. Aswecanfromtheabove,paralleistructurecancreateagoodvisualimageandhelpreadersmovequicklyfromoneideatothenext.Parallelismgivesemphasis,charityandcoherenceofideas,anditalsogivestherhythmoftheproverbs.Ithelpsthereaderstocatchtheideaofthespeakersorwritereasilyandpleasantly.[23]4.6Synecdoche(15)Twoheadsarebetterthanone.(16)Greatmindsthinkalike.Herethewords“head”and"mind”arebothrepresent"aperson"•4.7Hyperbole(17)Athousandyearscannotrepairamomentslossofhonor.(18)Theworldisbutalittleplace,afterall<(19)Anunfortunatemanwouldedrownedinateacup.Hyperboleisacommonlyusedasignofgreatemotionasshownintheaboveexamples・Thereisnointenttodeceivethereader,instead,inthespeaker"smindheistrulydescribinghisintensefeelingatthetime.4.8Pun(20)Measureyourselfbyyourownfoot.Heretheword"foot”hastwomeanings:onemeanshumaheel,theotherisdimensionalunit・Sotheaboveproverbhastwodifferentmeanings,whichcreateapun.(21)Rueandthymegrowbothinonegarden.Heretheword“rue”hastwodifferentmeanings:oneisthenameofkingofflower,theothermeansregret・Theword"thyme"andtheword"time"havethesamepronuncistions.Thesetworeasonsmakeapun.ConelusionProverbsaretheoutcomeoflanguage.Theycomefrompeopleandareusedbypeople.“Proverbs,asaprominentscholaroncesaid“themirrorofanation”and"thelivingfossilofaIanguage,doplayanimportantroleindifferentlanguagesandcultures.TnthewordsofFrancisBacon,“theGenius,witandspiritofanationarediscoveredinitsproverbs.””[24]ThereareavarietyofproverbsalmostallEnglishspeakersarofamiliarwith.Theyregardthesewordsofwisdomwithrespect・Tosumup,themajorsourcesofEnglishproverbsaretheexperieneeofthecommonpeople,1iteraryworks,religiousscripture,mythology,translatedloans,andhistory.SowecangainsomebasicknowledgeofEnglishculturethroughlearningEnglishproverbs,whichplaysanimportantroleincross-culturalcommunication.Becauseofusingrhetoricaldevicesandrhythmicalways,Englishproverbsarefilledwithimageandvividness,whichcancatchtheattentionofthereadersandmaketheideaimpresseddeeplyonthereaders.Theyalsorevealauniversaltruthfromaparticularpointinordertoenlightenpeople.Soproverbsgivepeopleadviceorwarningsindealingwitheverydayissues,andpointoutthepathtoknowIedgeandseif-cultivation・ Bibliography王徳春、杨素英、黄月圆.汉英谚语与文化[M]•上海：上海外语教育出版社,2003.P57⑵郝澎•英美民间故事与民俗：你不可不知道的英语学习背景知识[M]•海口：南海出版公司,2004.5.P49[3]同注⑵,P41[4]圣经（马太福音第27章第32节）[M].中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会；中国基督教协会.南京爱徳卬刷有限公司，2000.P57⑸圣经（申命记第8章第3节）[M].中国棊怦教三自爱国运动委员会；中国基督教协会.南京爱徳印刷有限公司,2000.PP283-2844.4.4王书亭、王建敏.英语流行谚语[M]•东营：石油大学出版社，2004.4.P1744.4.5同注[6],P1684.4.6同注[1],P414.4.7同注[1],P554.4.8同注[1],P55同注[1],P56[12]同注[1],P55[13]王振亚.语言与文化[M].北京:高等教育出版社,1999.4.P191[14]同注[1],P186[15]同注[1],P50[16]王振亚.实用英语语言文化[M].保定：河北大学出版社，2004.&P139[17]刘宝权、侯艳萍.《英语专业八级人文知识》[M]•大连：人连理工人学版社，2005.9.P47[18]林承璋.《英语词汇学引论（修订版武汉：武汉大学出版社,1997.4.PP36-37[19]同注[6],P88[20]同注⑴,P100[21]张秀国.英语修辞学[M]•北京：清华大学出版社北京交通大学出版社,2005.P127[22]同注[22],P165[23]同注[22],P129