SEMANTIC FEATURES OF ENGLISH PARAEMIA AS A REFLECTION OF NATIONAL CHARACTER

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive linguistic and cultural analysis of the semantic features of English paremias as a reflection of the national character of English-speaking society. Paremias are viewed as condensed verbal expressions that encapsulate collective experience, moral principles, and culturally specific ways of interpreting the world. The study emphasizes that paremias perform not only a communicative but also a didactic and value-oriented function, serving as a means of transmitting social norms, ethical standards, and national identity across generations.

The research identifies several major semantic groups of English paremias – didactic, philosophical, practical, social, metaphorical, antithetical, and ironic – and examines their structural, grammatical, and functional characteristics. Particular attention is paid to the pragmatic and moral dimensions of paremias, which reveal core traits of the English national character such as rationality, self-discipline, diligence, restraint, and respect for individual autonomy. Through a detailed semantic and contextual analysis, the paper demonstrates that English paremias reflect a pragmatic worldview oriented toward practical wisdom, ethical responsibility, and social harmony.

The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the linguistic mechanisms through which culture is encoded in proverbial expressions. They can be applied in further research on comparative phraseology, translation studies, and linguocultural communication, as well as in educational contexts for developing intercultural competence in English language learners.