Gender and language: Gender Implications in Proverbs (The Kartvelian Case)

Abstract

Gender studies have been remarkably popular among the representatives of different scientific
fields in recent times. These topics appear to interest Sociolinguistics, Culturology,
Anthropology and other neighboring disciplines besides Linguistics itself. Studying proverbs of
the peoples all over the world as one of the perfect mediums for observing and comparing
different cultures, is crucial in many respects. Studying proverbs from Gender perspective do not
represent an exception. Highlighting and accentuating gender aspects contained in proverbs
becomes particularly important while talking about cultures that are rich with masculine or feminine tendencies. Proverbs can be considered as an important medium for the representation of the stereotypes existed in any society, since they are the reflection of the knowledge and experience accumulated over the centuries within the culture. Human wisdom and the system of perspectives concentrated in proverbs determine the core nature of a certain culture. Thus, the structural-semantic analysis of proverbs demarcates the general picture built upon the common beliefs, viewpoints and global perspectives of a certain society