Proverbs of Comparative Semantics on Poverty and Wealth in Swedish and Russian Languages: Structural and Linguacultural Approaches

Abstract

This study identifies similarities and differences in the structural organization and cultural attitudes expressed in Swedish and Russian proverbs of comparative semantics on poverty and wealth. It provides a classification of linguistic units (35 Swedish and 60 Russian proverbs) based on their expression of identity, comparison, contrast, and syntactic organization. The research reveals that in the Swedish language, proverbs expressing comparison with adjectives in the comparative degree have quantitative advantages, while in the Russian language, proverbs expressing contrast prevail. Similar cultural attitudes in Swedish and Russian proverbs of comparative semantics on poverty and wealth include:(1) The wealthy person’s material status is incomparably higher than that of the poor, but the poor person surpasses the wealthy in moral terms.(2) The wealthy always desire more, being unsatisfied with their wealth.(3) Laws operate differently for the rich and the poor.(4) Wealth is fleeting if not used wisely.Differences lie in specific cultural attitudes. For instance, Swedish proverbs focus on the wealthy person’s daughter as a coveted prize for those seeking easy enrichment, while Russian proverbs intensify certain qualities of individuals based on their degree of poverty / wealth (the poorer a person is, the more generous, wise, intelligent, brave, cunning they are, etc.).

Keywords

• proverbs
• swedish language
• russian language
• poverty
• wealth