A STUDY OF THE TRADITIONAL VALUES OF MARRIAGE REFLECTED IN CHINESE PROVERBS
DOI: 10.23951/1609-624X-2019-4-102-109
Language is an essential element of culture and it is possible to transfer cultural information via language. Meanwhile, cultural changes affect the development of the language elements such as grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary and usage. Therefore, the study of a culture cannot be complete without learning the language in which cultural codes are transmitted. Proverbs are an important part of the language. The contents include moral values, lifestyle, traditional culture and many other aspects. They demonstrate some ethnic cultural values, reflect the inner world of the people. There are many Chinese proverbs showing the traditional ideas of marriage and the right choice of a spouse. The family as a unit of society is an important carrier of continuity and the development of national culture. This article discusses the importance of family life and the meanings of marriage based on the analysis of some typical related Chinese proverbs. The characteristics and special features of Chinese traditional family and marriage values can be represented in these proverbs. The deep structure of the proverbs indicates the need to preserve stability and harmony in the family and marriage, which is one of the most crucial values identified and substantiated through long history. This paper suggests that traditional Chinese people have been paying great attention to the family life and quality of marriage. It emphasizes that when choosing a spouse, moral qualities were considered more seriously than outer appearance. Besides, the positions of the husband and wife should be roughly equal in terms of social classes, financial conditions and educational backgrounds. Proverbs conveys the traditional ideas that men take the leading and dominant roles in family life. By analyzing Chinese proverbs about marriage and family relationships, one can gain further understanding of the traditional Chinese view of marriage and love. In Chinese society at the beginning of the 21st century, traditional values are still the resources for people to develop the new concepts of relations between spouses and such research meets the requirements of the social development of modern society.
Keywords: China, proverbs, culture, cultural values, family values, marriage concept, language mentality, linguistic and cultural analysis
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Issue: 4, 2019
Series of issue: Issue 4
Rubric: CURRENT ISSUES IN LINGUISTICS
Pages: 102 — 109
Downloads: 897