Proverbial expressions in newspapers – A comparative study in Estonia, Finland and Slovenia.

Abstract

<p> This article 1 examines proverbs and proverbial expressions<br /> in contemporary newspaper contexts and in everyday use in<br /> three languages: Estonian, Finnish, and Slovenian. Print<br /> editions of the Estonian newspapers Postimees and Tartu<br /> Postimees, the Finnish newspapers Helsingin Sanomat,<br /> Salon Seudun Sanomat, and Perni&ouml;nseudun Lehti, and<br /> the Slovenian newspaper Dnevnik were scanned for use of<br /> proverbial material during May 2013. From the reader&rsquo;s<br /> point of view, proverbs are understood to be both etic and<br /> emic concepts. The article discusses how to recognize contemporary<br /> proverbial units in this study in newspaper texts. The<br /> quantitative part of the study outlines proverbial expressions<br /> among newspaper genres and sections, and the location of<br /> proverbial expressions within textual units. The qualitative<br /> part of the analysis concerns distinctive national differences<br /> (use of proverbial expressions in horoscopes in Estonia, combined<br /> with TV programs in Finland and opinion pieces or<br /> letters to the editor in Slovenia) and focuses on them in a<br /> cultural context. The qualitative study highlights the most<br /> essential concentrations of proverbs. The differences are<br /> outlined in the sections focusing on country-specific features.</p>