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In:Proverbs within Cognitive Linguistics: State of the art
Edited by Sadia Belkhir
[Cognitive Linguistic Studies in Cultural Contexts 16] 2024
► pp. 112–131

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Chapter 5
Proverbs of Latin and French origin in the history of English

A socio-cognitive analysis

 | University of Basel, Switzerland
Published online: 30 May 2024
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https://doi.org/10.1075/clscc.16.05lan
Abstract
The present study deals with proverbs of Latin and French origin adopted into English throughout its history. Dictionaries such as the Oxford English Dictionary Online (OED Online) serve as valuable sources to identify the different lexical units. The treatment of proverbs in lexicographical resources is compared to their current usage as reflected by a multitude of recent newspaper articles. This raises the question of how the uses of the various proverbs as described in dictionaries such as the OED differ from those in recent newspapers. A socio-cognitive perspective is paramount in order to determine the variety of emotionally-affective forces which may account for English speakers’ motivations for using the borrowed proverb instead of a native translation equivalent.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Data and methodology
  • 3.Latin and French proverbs in the history of English
    • 3.1The distribution, development, and contextual usage of Latin and French proverbs over the centuries
    • 3.2Motivations for the use of proverbs including socio-cognitive valuations and attitudes
  • 4.Summary and conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
  • Online dictionaries and corpora
References (34)
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Online dictionaries and corpora
LDOCE = Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. Compiled by Pearson (Harlow); available online at <[URL]> (last accessed 30 August 2021)
Nexis Uni. Compiled by Lexis Nexis GmbH, Dusseldorf, Germany; available online at <[URL]> (last accessed 30 August 2021)
OALD = Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Compiled by Oxford University Press; available online at <[URL]> (last accessed 30 August 2021)
OED = Oxford English Dictionary Online. Murray, J., Bradley, H., Craigie, W., & Onions, Charles T. (Eds.) (1884–1933). The Oxford English Dictionary; Supplement (1972–86), ed. by R. Burchfield; Second ed. (1989), ed. by J. Simpson, & E. Weiner; Additions Series (1993–1997), ed. by J. Simpson, E. Weiner, & M. Proffitt; Third ed. (in progress) OED Online (March 2000), ed. by J. Simpson. Oxford. OED Online searchable at: <[URL]> (last accessed 30 August 2021).
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