Филология / сопостовительная лингвистика

Makulbekova A. K., Toktarova T. Zh., Kopbayeva Zh. S.

(The Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty)

Gender Dimension of Comparative Studies of Proverbs in Kazakh, Russian and English languages

It is known that proverbs as a unit of folklore and a collection of folk wisdom, reflects the mentality, traditions and customs of one or another nation. The representation of gender in terms of language and culture allows us to analyze better gender stereotypes that exist in a particular language. Linguistic-cultural aspect of gender linguistics identifies national and cultural peculiarities of paramiological worldview. As V.A. Maslova noted, cultural linguistics is a branch of linguistics which occurred at the intersection of linguistics and culture and explores the cultural expression of the people that entrenched in the language / 1 /.

V.N. Teliya believes that a subject of modern cultural linguistics is a study and a description of semantics of language of signs (its nominative tools and texts) in their live, synchronous current use, which is based on the interaction of two different domains - language and culture, as each of them is also considered as the subject of culture / 2 /. V.V. Vorobyov, the author of the term cultural linguistics, rightly observes that cultural linguistics is a complex scientific discipline which studies the relationship and interaction of culture and language in its functioning and reflects the process as a whole structure of units in the unity of their linguistic and cultural content using systemic methods with a focus on current priorities and cultural establishments (a system of norms and human values) / 3 /.

According to Z.K. Sabitova, the analysis of cultural information contained in the words, fixed phrases and proverbs describes the concepts about ideals and anti-ideals of men and women fixed in the consciousness of people, native speakers of language and culture. The main characteristics of men and women include: age, psychophysical properties and states, characteristics of verbal behaviour and various forms of activity / 4 /.

So, the analysis of cultural linguistics will reveal national and cultural aspects of linguistic genderology. Comparative study of proverbs shows and updates the particular phenomena in the mentality of one or another nation. As you know, proverbs are the phenomena of language, stable combinations which describe the identity of nation. We should note that one of the most striking manifestations of gender stereotypes are proverbs.

The object of our study is Russian and Kazakh proverbs dedicated to men and women. During the analysis, we identified the following features: a negative attitude towards women is international in nature, many proverbs about women have instructive nature, they clearly traced educational nature. We have observed that a large number of proverbs about women show male chauvinism and patronizing tone. Violence against women is not condemned, vice versa it is rather appreciated:

Balani zhastan, katyndy bastan (Kazakh)/ Bring up a child from infancy and a wife from the beginning.

Baba ne bita, shto lozhka ne myta (Russian)./ You didn’t beat your wife, so she didn’t do the washing up.

Bei zhenu do detei, bei detei do lyude (Russian) /Beat your wife until you have children, beat your children until they are adults.

Bei zhenu k obedu, a k uzhinu opyat, bez boya za stol ne syad. (Russian)/ Beat your wife up to lunch, then again up to dinner, don’t sit at the table without beating.

Shubu bei – teplee, babu bei – milee. (Russian)/ Beat your fur coat, it will be warmer, beat your wife, she will be nicer.

Female mind and intellect are evaluated very critically in proverbs. For example:

Babi umy razoryaut doma. (Russian) /Old wives' minds ruin houses.

U babi volos dolog, da um korotok. (Russian)/ Woman’s hair is long, but the mind is short.

Aielding shashy uzin, akyly kyska. (Kazakh) / Woman's hair is long, but the mind is short.

In proverbs much attention is paid to her responsibilities:

Zhaksy kelin zhyrtyk zhengmen zhurgizbes (Kazakh)/ A good daughter-in-law will not let go in ragged.

Zhaksy aiel zhamanyn zhasyrar, zhaksysyn asyrar (Kazakh) / A good woman will hide the bad and exaggerate the good .

National and cultural aspects of Kazakh linguistic genderology are reflected primarily in gender stereotypes, gender roles traditionally assigned to men and women. For example, a man in Kazakh family is considered as "the head of his family", "getter", "defender" and "adviser".

It should be noted that the authority of the husband/father is very high. Thus, in proverbs big focus is on position of men in society, authority of their behavior and indispensability of men in the family:

Eri zhok aiel, eskegi zhok kaiyk.(Kazakh) /A woman without husband is as a boat without oars.

Zhenshina bez supruga, pole bez dozhdya.(Russian)/A woman without husband is like a field without rain.

Za muzhem zhena vsegda gospozha, ne poi kuritsa petukhom, ne vladei baba muzhikom.(Russian)/A wife with her husband is always lady, hen do not sing as a rooster, woman do not speak as a man.

As you see from these examples, the superiority of men over women is confirmed, and sometimes acts as an undeniable and eternal truth.

Traditional system of gender stereotypes of Kazakh people is built on rigid norms. When men perform women’s duties, it causes negative attitude of surrounding people to them, they are strictly criticized, according to society gender roles men and women should strictly comply with them. Gender stereotypes are clearly manifested in ritualized etiquette, where a man and a woman have to strictly follow the prescribed script. We should note that in comparison with Russia and European countries gender stereotypes present firmly in traditional culture of Kazakh people and even in their modern society.

Speaking about Kazakh woman, we should note that she appears like domestic goddess and she plays the role of traditional housewife. Kazakh woman should not only be able to run the household, raise children, but also to honour the traditions and customs of Kazakh people, be modest and submissive. In this case, when a woman performs the duties prescribed man: family or professional duties, this does not expose to negative attitude on the part of society, on the contrary, it deserves respect.

Kazakh proverbs clearly show women's participation, proportion and role in the family:

Aiel uiding korki (Kazakh) /A woman is the decoration of home.

Erkek tuz saktaidy, aiel ui saktaidy (Kazakh)/ A man is external custodian, a woman is the keeper of home.

Aiel uidin kazygy. (Kazakh) / A woman is the peg of home.

Positive qualities of women are their mind, wit, intelligence and ability to farm. Negative qualities of women are: cunning, deceit, quirky and intriguery:

Bіr katyn sylaumen katyn, bіr katyn kynaumen katyn, bіr katyn synaumen katyn.(Kazakh)/ A woman is a woman due to diligence, the other due to her attractiveness, the third due to her cunning.

Er ailasy bіr, katyn ailasy myng.(Kazakh)/ Men have one trick, women have thousand.

Kto babe verit, treh dnei ne prozhivet. (Russian)/ Who believes to woman, does not live three days.

Ponevole starukha klyanetsya, koli vret.(Russian)/ Involuntarily old woman vows, if lying.

According to Kazakh proverbs, such human vices as cunning, intrigue and disingenuity are unique to women. Men more likely than women have the following qualities as nobility, honor, generosity, power, patronage. However, the Kazakh proverb says indispensability of women:

Katyn zhok үi zhetіm. / A house without woman is like an orphan.

Aieli zhok ui - sui zhok diіrmen./ A house without woman is like a mill without water.

In Kazakh proverbs we found the ratio of such concepts as: there is an inextricable connection between man and his nation:

Auyr zhuktі nar koterer, el zhugіn er koterer./ A camel will carry the heavy load, a brave man will master the people’s burden.

Tura agash uige tіrek, tura zhіgіt elge tіrek./ A straight tree is backup for home, a brave man is support for people.

In Russian proverbs negative qualities (stupidity, stubbornness, shortsightedness, greed) are characteristic of men:

Muzhik glup kak svinya, a hiter kak chert./A man is stupid as pig, and clever as devil.

However, there are some positive English proverbs about women. For example,

A good wife makes a good husband.

Behind every great man there's a great woman.

The wife is the key of the house.

A woman's place is at home.

From the above-mentioned proverbs we should notice that there is a common opinion to many nations: if you chose well-bred life partner, exemplary hostess, you ensure public acceptance, credibility. This view is again confirms the stereotype that a man is one stage higher than a woman, men have more opportunities. English proverbs are the confirmation of the stereotype:

Men get wealth and women keep it.

Men make houses, women make homes.

These proverbs describe the image of English women in comparison with men as weak, defenseless and dependent on men. British woman, according to the proverbs, plays the role of mother, the creator of comfort and the one who serves to her husband. The man in English proverbs, above all, a supporter, breadwinner, protector and head of the family.

It should be noted that the English proverbs are the exact equivalents of Kazakh proverbs:

Erte turgan zhіgіttіng yrysy artyk,

Erte turgan aieldіng bіr іsі artyk. (Kazakh)/ If a man gets up earlier, it makes him wealthier, If a woman gets up earlier, she can do something extra/additionally.

We also should note that Kazakh and English people do not have in common: different religions, cultures, traditions, customs, as well as geographical separation of these nations. However, gender stereotypes and gender roles that prescribe standards of men’s and women’s behaviour can be called international. Studying the proverbs of these two nations we can see face of this nation, its history and culture. The high status of men is reflected in English proverbs, however, it is noted that all of these are achieved by a man only with the support of woman. This conclusion is typical to Kazakh proverbs. Comparing Kazakh and English proverbs we found similarities in understated role and place of women. Thus, the English proverb "The death of wives and the life of sheep make her husband rich" and “Women have no souls” are conformable with Kazakh proverb "Aielding shashy uzyn, akyly kyska "(The woman has long hair, but the mind is short).

Since ancient times in traditional England, as well as in Kazakh people, particular importance was given to the marriage of children. Matter of choosing a husband/wife for their children was decided by their parents. Particular importance was attached to pedigree of the chosen, to his/her material welfare and position in society. Financial status was one of the main criteria for marriage brokerage. The above-mentioned proverb "The death of wives and the life of sheep make her husband rich" is striking confirmation of the material over the spiritual dominance of the old days.

All existing gender stereotypes are supported through the process of socialization, whether within the family, the school, the community, through the media, etc. Proverbs are a litmus test, identifying the attitudes of men and women, and their role and place in society and family.

National and cultural characteristics identified during the analysis of proverbs dedicated to men and women, have a fairly expressed differentiation by gender. Gender stereotypes in society, associated with the traditions and customs of Kazakh people are very actual in the proverbs of Kazakh people.

It should be noted that proverbs have deep historical and cultural roots, which reflect the mentality of one or another nation. However, the changes in the world, in the country cannot affect the differentiation of sex. The global transformations taking place in the economy and politics of the Republic of Kazakhstan directly reflect in the attitude to women and change established stereotypes.

Thus, analyzing Russian, Kazakh and English proverbs, we made the following conclusions: a negative attitude towards women has international character, in Russian proverbs negative assessment of women represented more than in Kazakh proverbs. In Kazakh proverbs a lot of attention is paid to the role, status and place of men. Only in Kazakh proverbs man and his nation are as a unit, a man is unthinkable without his nation. In English proverbs special importance is given to the material state. Kazakh and English proverbs are more identical on value than proverbs in Russian and Kazakh.

Literature

1. Maslova V. A. Cultural Linguistics. Moscow: Academy, 2001. p. 208.

2. Teliya V.N. Basic postulates of cultural linguistics. M. Alateya. 1999.

3. Vorobyov V.V. About the status of cultural linguistics / / Russian language, literature and culture at the turn of the century. Abstracts, reports and reports, IX Int. Congress MAPRYAL. - T. 2. - Bratislava, 1999.

4. Sabitova Z.K. Gender opposition in language: diachronic dimension. Textbook. Almaty, 2007. p. 38.

5. Gender and Development. The CEDPA Training Manual Series Volume III.

6. Centre for Development and Population Activities. Washington, D.C., U.S.A.