A Cultural and Sociolinguistic Analysis of English and Iraqi Arabic Certain Animal Proverbs
Hassan Khalaf Amer Hummadi
College of Education for Humanities
Muhammad Barjes Salman
College of Education for Humanities
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25130/jls.2.1.5
Keywords: -Social Variables -Proverbs - Animals - Connotations speech communities
Abstract
This study deals with some dog proverbs with the aim of showing
the way in which the English and the Iraqi Arabs interpret and use animal
proverbs. Some dog proverbs have been. picked out and worked with
Leech's (1981) connotations and Holmes' (2013) social factors. Among
the findings, it is found out that English and Iraqi Arabs have different
attitudes towards. their animal proverbs which give the proverbs different
connotations, and in turn, influence the way they interact with social
factors. It is also figured out that both cultures associate the frequent use
of dog proverbs with the lower prestigious occupations (e.g., farmers).
Moreover, the English are more flexible in using animal proverbs with
socially remote participants more than the Iraqi Arabs do. Finally, it is
concluded that the only variable that coincides in the two cultures is the
informality variables. This means the inappropriate use of dog proverbs
in the formal type of interactions in England and Iraqi Arabic speech
communities.
