This study explores how gender is expressed both explicitly and implicitly in English paremiological units, particularly proverbs and sayings. Drawing on contemporary gender linguistics and an anthropocentric approach, the research views language as a reflection of socially and culturally constructed gender roles. Proverbs are treated as stable cultural artifacts that preserve traditional values, moral judgments and stereotypes accumulated over generations. The analysis reveals that English proverbs often reflect gender asymmetry, with a noticeable tendency toward male-centered perspectives rooted in historical and patriarchal social structures. At the same time, these linguistic units demonstrate both universal patterns of gender representation and culturally specific features shaped by the English-speaking context. Special attention is given to the ways gender is encoded through lexical choices, semantic nuances, and metaphorical associations. By combining qualitative interpretation with elements of linguistic statistical analysis, the study highlights how proverbs contribute to the construction and transmission of gender norms. Ultimately, the findings suggest that English paremiological units function as a complex intersection of language, culture, and ideology, preserving both enduring stereotypes and culturally specific understandings of gender relations.
Universal and National-Cultural in The Explicit and Implicit Expression of Gender in English Paremiological Units
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References
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