The function of the saying is to capture words of popular language and transform them to explain different topics, while its purpose is to express and make clear an idea with representative words, relating to facts or characters of everyday life.
For example in the saying "Stubborn as a mule" , Refers to someone who does not want to enter into reason (sayings and their meanings, s.f.). In short, the function of the saying is to teach and the purpose is to convey.
The Royal Academy of the Spanish Language defines a saying as: Said acute and sententious in common use" (Spanish, s.f.).
It is a popular and traditional phrase, sentence or proverb, usually found in the form of verse and rhyme; Which is born by the experiences of the peoples and settlers reflecting the culture and way of life.
It is an expression of few words of a thought, a teaching or a council that is disconnected from the popular wisdom, pretending to explain life and its circumstances.
A good example of this is the well-known saying "Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are" , Which warns of the influence of friends on the good or bad behavior of human beings (sayings and their meanings, s.f.).
The main functions of sayings
To express and transmit ideas it is necessary to gather words and thoughts that reflect the customs and ways of life of a society, allowing them to be spread from generation to generation with functions that add benefits to the human being.
Some of these are:
-Learn, since until the Little sayings Allow us to reflect on our behavior, helping to always learn something and treasure such teachings, such as "To bad weather, good face" . Meaning that we must be positive.
-To show customs or social characteristics of a country or region. An example of this is the well-known Argentine saying "Every bug that walks, it's going to stop at the grill" ; Which indicates that everything that walks can be eaten or "When the blanket is short, learn to cuddle" ; Philippine saying that shows us that living beings adapt to all circumstances.
- It also helps support parents in their work of guiding and instilling values in their children, as the saying goes "On horseback, he does not look at the tooth."
With this, the children learn to be grateful, showing a real attitude of satisfaction and joy with the gifts.
-help educators to build in students the correct social and educational behavior.
For example "Who sleeps a lot, learns little" . He says that people who are lazy and do not strive, will rarely get anything good.
-Forming moral and religious values. "To God what is of God and to Caesar what is of cease" , Which means that we have to give each one what he deserves.
-Contribute to good manners. "What you learn from the cradle, it always lasts" . It shows that the teachings of the house are reflected in social behavior.
The saying provides simple solutions to different situations in life, so you must interpret each word and apply it to each situation.
The popular origin of sayings makes these phrases more and more related to the colloquial or common register of communication.
For this reason today speakers, presenters, actors and media both written and oral, use them as an integral part of the language.
References
- Academy. (S.f.). Obtained from Academia.edu.
- Virtual Center Cervantes. (S.f.). Obtained from cvc.cervantes.es.
- Dictionary. (S.f.). Retrieved from dictionary.com.
- Spanish, R.A. (s.f.). RAE. Obtained from rae.es.
- Spanish, R.A. (s.f.). Royal Spanish Academy. Obtained from dle.rae.es.
- Most Daily. (2016). Obtained from lomasdiario.com.
- Sayings and their Meanings. (S.f.). Retrieved from www.