Keywords
proverbs
English
Italian
Lithuanian
Slovenian
How to Cite
Abstract
The article presents a cross-linguistic contrastive analysis of proverbs featuring the word ‘bee’ in English, Italian, Lithuanian, and Slovenian, aiming to explore common semantic fields, culture-specific features, the proportion of shared proverbs and their origins. Employing a mixed methods approach, the research integrates qualitative and quantitative data from a corpus of 255 proverbs. Five semantic fields were identified (innate qualities, indispensable bees, collectivity, warnings, and selectivity). The origins of these proverbs trace back to Classical times, Christianity, Medieval Latin, and folk wisdom.
References
Accademia della Crusca (2024): Accademia della Crusca. https://www.proverbi-italiani.org/ricerca_libera_ris_1.asp# (last access: 2024-10-15).
Apperson, George Latimer (2006): The Wordsworth Dictionary of Proverbs. Ware-Hertforshire, Wordsworth Editions Limited.
Arora, Sherley (1984): The Perception of Proverbiality. Proverbium: Yearbook of International Proverb Scholarship, 1, 1–38.
Babič, Saša (2015): Beseda ni konj. Ljubljana, ZRC SAZU.
Barrow, Isaac (1678): Several Sermons against Evil-Speaking. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A31086.0001.001 (last access: 2024-11-19).
Bohn, Henry George (1875): A Handbook of Proverbs. London, G. Bell & Sons.
Bokal, Ljudmila (2009): Čebelarski terminološki slovar. Ljubljana, Založba ZRC, ZRC SAZU.
Brown, Janet & Wilhelmina Wright-Harp (2011): Cultural and Generational Factors Influencing Proverb Recognition. Communication Science and Disorders, 38, 26–35.
Browning, David Clayton (1959): Everyman’s Dictionary of Quotations and Proverbs. London, J. M. Dent & Sons LTD.
Cahier, Charles (1856): Quelque Six Mille Proverbes et Aphorismes Usuels. Paris, Julien Lamier. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k9780380s (last access: 2024-10-15).
Calanchi, Alessandra, Renzi, Luca & Salvatore Ritrovato (2011): Le api tra realtà scientifica e rappresentazione letteraria e artistica. München, Martin Meidenbauer.
Capponi, Gino (1871): Raccolta di proverbi toscani nuovamente ampliata da quella di Giuseppe Giusti. Firenze, Successori Le Monnier.
Carlson, Rachel (2015): The Honey Bee and Apian Imagery in Classical Literature. PhD Thesis, University of Washington. https://digital.lib.washington.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/3e54c081-6b074a7b-a00b-d83b05ec3ca4/content (last access: 2024-10-20).
Christy, Robert (1887): Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages. New York, London, G. P, Putnam’s Sons.
Colombo, Chiara, Pontani, Paola & Mario Iodice (2024): The Little Things that Run the World. Lingue e linguaggi, 61, 77–99.
Cruse, Alan (2011): Meaning in Language: An Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Cvetko, Damjana (2016): Pregovori o čebeli in medu: diplomsko delo. The University of Maribor Digital Library. https://dk.um.si/IzpisGradiva.php?id=63990 (last access: 2024-10-20).
Cvetko, Damjana, Jelovčan, Jerneja & Alenka Veber (2018): Kdor se čebel boji, medu ne dobi: paberkovanje po čebelarski dediščini. Celje, Mohorjeva družba.
D’Ambra, Francesco (1886): Proverbi italiani: ordinati e illustrati. Firenze, Adriano Salani editore.
Dobrovol’skij, Dmitrij (1992): Phraseological Universals: Theoretical and Applied Aspects. In: Kefer, Michel & Johan van der Auwera (eds.): Meaning and Grammar: Cross-linguistic Perspectives. Berlin, New York, Mouton de Gruyter, 279–302.
Doyle, Charles, Mieder, Wolfgang & Fred Shapiro (2012): The Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. New Haven, London, Yale University Press.
Draxe, Thomas (1616): Bibliotheca scholastica instructissima. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A20796.0001.001 (last access: 2024-10-05).
Dundes, Alan (1969): Thinking Ahead: A Folkloristic Reflection of the Future Orientation in American Worldview. Anthropological Quarterly, 42, 2, 53–72.
Dundulienė, Pranė (1990): Senovės lietuvių mitologija ir religija. Vilnius, Mokslas.
Eckert, Rainer (1989): Die historische Schichtung des Fachwortschatzes der Waldimkerei im Baltischen und Slawischen. Baltistica, 25, 1, 6–23.
Finegan, Edward (2008): Language: Its Structure and Use. Boston, Thomson Wadsworth.
Florio, John (1578): Florio his Firste Fruites which Yeelde Familiar Speech, Merie Prouerbes, Wittie Sentences, and Golden Sayings. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A00990.0001.001 (last access: 2024-10-29).
Gaal, Georg (2023 [1830]): Sprüchwörterbuch in Sechs Sprachen. Deutsch, Englisch, Latein, Italienisch, Französisch und Ungrisch. Frankfurt, Outlook Verlag.
Giese, Ronald (1992): Strength through Wisdom and the Bee in LXX-Prov 6, 8. Biblica, 73, 3, 404–411.
Grigas, Kazys (1976): Lietuvių patarlės: Lyginamasis tyrinėjimas. Vilnius, Vaga.
Grigas, Kazys & Lilija Kudirkienė (2000): Lietuvių patarlės ir priežodžiai, Vol. 1. Vilnius, Lietuvių literatūros ir tautosakos institutas.
Grzybek, Peter (2008): Fundamentals of Slovenian Paremiology. Traditiones, 37, 1, 23–46.
Howell, James (1659): Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Savves & Adages in English (or the Saxon toung), Italian, French, and Spanish. London, J. G.
Ivanov, Eugene & Julia Petrushevskaia (2015): Etymology of English Proverbs. Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences, 5, 8, 864–872.
Jacobs, Nicole (2020): Bees in Early Modern Transatlantic Literature: Sovereign Colony. London, Routledge.
Keber, Janez (2011): Slovar slovenskih frazemov. Ljubljana, ZRC SAZU.
Kelly, Walter (1859): Proverbs of All Nations Compared, Explained and Illustrated. London, W. Kent & Co.
Kochman-Haładyj, Bożena (2020): The Vexing Problem of Gender Stereotyping in World Proverbs. SKASE Journal of Theoretical Linguistics, 17, 1, 1–14.
Kõiva, Mare (2023): Bees in Folk Belief and Practices Before and Now. The Yearbook of Balkan and Baltic Studies, 6, 1, 228–252.
Koledar Mohorjeve družbe (1968): Kolendar Mohorjeve družbe. Celje, Mohorjeva družba.
Koprivnikar, Helena, Zorko, Maja, Drev, Andreja, Hovnik Keršmanc, Marjetka, Kvaternik, Ines & Mirna Macur (2015): Uporaba tobaka, alkohola in prepovedanih drog med prebivalci Slovenije ter neenakosti in kombinacije te uporabe. Ljubljana, NIJZ.
Krėvė-Mickevičius, Vincas (1938): Patarlės ir priežodžiai, Vol. 4. In Krėvė-Mickevičius, Vincas (ed.): Darbai ir dienos 7. Kaunas, Akc. „Spindulio” bedrovės spaustuvė, 323–392.
Kržišnik, Erika (2008): Viri za kulturološko interpretacijo frazeoloških enot. Jezik in slovstvo, 53, 1, 33–47.
Kržišnik, Erika (2023): Nekaj stalnih, nekaj nevarnih in nekaj težavnih lastnosti rabe frazeologije v medijskih besedilih. Teorija in praksa, 60, 2, 221–236.
Kuusi, Matti (1972): Towards an International Type-System of Proverbs. Helsinki, Finnish Academy of Science and Letters.
Lambertini, Vincenzo (2022): Che cos’è un proverbio. Roma, Carocci.
Lampe, Ivan (1902): Čebelarski pregovori. Slovenski čebelar, 5, 12, 150–152.
Landmann, Julia & Yannick Ganz (2023): Animal Proverbs. A Cross-Cultural Perspective. English Today, 40, 3, 231–236. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266078423000226 (last access: 2024-11-11).
Lapucci, Carlo (2007): Dizionario dei proverbi italiani. Milano, Mondadori.
Lauhakangas, Outi (2001): The Matti Kuusi International Type System of Proverbs. Helsinki, Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia.
Lelli, Emanuele (2021): Proverbi, sentenze e massime di saggezza in Grecia e a Roma. Tutte le raccolte da Pitagora all’Umanesimo. Milano, Bompiani.
Lenassi, Nives, Kompara Lukančič, Mojca & Sandro Paolucci (2024): Tassa di soggiorno or tassa turistica?: Terminological Challenges in Italian Translations in the Bilingual Municipalities of Slovenian Istria. Annales, Series Historia et Sociologia, 34, 2, 247–258.
Lipskienė, Vanda (1999): Po savo stogu visaip patogu: 5640 patarlių ir priežodžių. Vilnius, Žuvėdra.
Madmarova, Gulipa, Rozykova, Mavliuda, Abytova, Gulsana, Imasheva, Gulmira, Kadyrova, Gulmira, Murzakulova, Kanymzhan, Kydykeeva, Ainura, Aitieva, Samargul, Surkeeva, Dinara & Zhypargul Abdullaeva (2021): Reflection of People’s Ethical Ideas in Proverbs and Sayings. Open Journal of Modern Linguistics, 11, 3, 440–447.
Maxwell, Deborah, Edwards, Liz, Pillatt, Toby & Niamh Downing (2016): Stories in a Beespoon: Exploring Future Folklore through Design. In: Lloyd, Peter & Eric Bohemia (eds.): Future Focused Thinking – DRS International Conference. Brighton, Design and Research Society, 3485–3503. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2016.503 (last access: 2024-10-20).
Meterc, Matej (2024a): »Lačen si ful drugačen«: Slovar pregovorov je letos bogatejši za 120 iztočnic. https://www.rtvslo.si/kultura/knjige/lacen-si-fuldrugacen-slovar-pregovorov-je-letos-bogatejsi-za120-iztocnic/731740 (last access: 2024-12-24).
Meterc, Matej (2024b): Slovar pregovorov in sorodnih paremioloških izrazov. Ljubljana, Založba ZRC. https://doi.org/10.3986/9789610508533 (last access: 2024-10-15).
Mieder, Wolfgang (2004): Proverbs: A handbook. London, Bloomsbury Academic.
Mieder, Wolfgang (2010): American Proverbs: An International, National, and Global Phenomenon. Western Folklore, 69, 1, 35–54.
Mieder, Wolfgang (2015): Wise Words: Essays on the Proverb. London, Routledge.
Ministry of Culture (2023): Beekeeping on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. https://www.gov.si/en/news/2023-04-22-beekeeping-on-the-representative-list-of-intangible-cultural-heritage/ (last access: 2024-10-15).
Močnik, Peter (1918): Čebelarski pregovori. Slovenski čebelar, 21, 1, 23–24.
Mortara Garavelli, Bice (1997): Manuale di retorica. Milano, Bompiani.
Mrkaić, Jelena (2020): Reconstructing Culture through Linguistically Coded Gender Stereotypes – The Case of Petar II Petrović Njegoš. Annales, Series Historia et Sociologia, 30, 1, 65–80.
Muradullayevna, Rustamova Malika (2022): Phraseology as an Object of Linguistic and Cultural Studies. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology, 10, 11, 892–894.
Ovsec, Damjan (1984): Čebele in čebelji pridelki v ljudskem izročilu. In: Skrt Kos, Nataša (ed.): Moč medu. Ljubljana, Koper, Lipa, 45–69.
Patarlių ir priežodžių elektroninis sąvadas (2024): Patarlių ir priežodžių elektroninis sąvadas [Electronic Compilation of Lithuanian Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases]. https://elpp.archyvas.llti.lt/lt (last access: 2024-10-20).
Pučnik, Janko (1980): Velika knjiga o vremenu. Ljubljani, Cankarjeva založba.
Puhar, Alenka (1992): Slovenski avtoportret 1918–1991. Ljubljana, Nova revija.
Purpura, Gianfranco (2010): Le api, l’accademia e il potere. Atti dell’Accademia di Scienze Lettere e Arti di Palermo, già del Buon Gusto, 6, 1, 425–442.
Preston, Claire (2006): Bee. London, Reaktion Books.
Ray, John (1678): A Collection of English Proverbs Digested into a Convenient Method for the Speedy Finding any one upon Occasion. Cambridge, W. Morden Cambridge.
Reberc, Ana (2018): Antropomorfizacija UI. Razpotja, 9, 31, 33–34.
Reynolds, Ross (2004): Vremenski vodnik. Ljubljana, Tehniška založba Slovenije.
Rosenwald, Lessing & Nicholas Fersen (1953): The Florentine Fiore di virtu of 1491. Philadelphia, Library of Congress.
Sandford, Iames (1572): The Garden of Pleasure Contayninge Most Pleasante Tales, Worthy Deeds and Witty Sayings of Noble Princes [et] Learned Philosophers, Moralized. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A02336.0001.001 (last access: 2024-11-05).
Schaff, Philip & Henry Wace (1884): A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church. Basil: Letters and Selected Works. Grand rapids, Eerdmans Publishing Company. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf208/npnf208.i.html (last access: 2024-10-15).
Schaff, Philip (1889): Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. St. Chrysostom. Grand Rapids, Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
Schwamenthal, Riccardo & Michele Straniero (2013): Dizionario dei proverbi italiani e dialettali. Milano, Rizzoli.
Smith, William (1935): The Oxford Dictionary of English Proverbs. Oxford, Clarendon Press.
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (2024): Smithsonian Libraries and Archives Unbound. https://blog.library.si.edu/?s=bee (last access: 2024-10-15).
Smoczyński, Wojciech (1982): Indoeuropejskie podstawy słownictwa bałtyckiego. Acta Baltico-Slavica, 14, 211–240.
Speake, Jennifer (2008): Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
SSKJ (2024): Slovar slovenskega knjižnega jezika. https://fran.si/iskanje?FilteredDictionaryIds=130&View=1&Query=%2A (last access: 2024-10-15).
Stanonik, Marija (1995): Čebela – žlahtna spremljevalka slovenske kulture: Čebela v slovenski kulturni zgodovini, literaturi in slovstveni folklori. Žiri, Čebelarska družina.
Stanonik, Marija (1999): Slovenska slovstvena folklora. Ljubljana, DZS.
Stanonik, Marija (2018): Čebela na cvetu in v svetu. Ljubljana, Slovenska matica.
SURS (2024): Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en (last access: 2024-10-15).
Steponavičienė, Daiva (2000): Bitės įvaizdis lietuvių mitologijoje ir tautosakoje. Liaudies kultūra, 4, 73, 28–33.
Strafforello, Gustavo (1868): La Sapienza del popolo; ossia, i proverbi. Milano, Editori della Biblioteca utile.
Svetokriški, Janez (1691): Sacrum Promptuarium. Venetiis, Zacharia Conzatti.
Syzdykov, Kanat (2014): Contrastive Studies on Proverbs. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 136, 318–321.
Šašelj, Ivan (1940): Slovenski pregovori iz živalstva. Etnolog 13, 140–145.
Šteh, Dragica (2022): Dobra beseda je kot med. Čebelarska zveza Slovenije. https://www.cd-ljubljanapolje.si/pregovori-o-cebelah/ (last access: 2024-10-15).
Taylor, Archer (1931): The Proverb. Cambridge, Harvard University.
Trupej, Janko (2024): The Portrayal of the Balkans in the Slovenian Translations of Karl May’s Orientzyklus. Annales, Series Historia et Sociologia, 34, 3, 283–298.
Tusser, Redivivus (1557): Fiue Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51764 (last access: 2024-11-4).
Ulčnik, Natalija (2015): Razvoj slovenske paremiologije in paremiološke terminologije. Slavia Centralis, 8, 1, 105–118.
UN (2015): Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. http://bit.ly/TransformAgendaSDG-pdf (last access: 2024-11-04).
Unesco (2009): Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue: UNESCO World Report. Paris, Unesco.
Volc, Josip (1934): Čebela v pregovorih. Slovenski čebelar, 37, 5–6, 94–95.
Vrbinc, Marjeta & Alenka Vrbinc (2012): Biblijski in literarni frazemi prevajalsko in leksikografsko. Annales, Series Historia et Sociologia, 22, 2, 499–508.
Wilson, Maura (2019): The Iconography of the Honey Bee in Western Art. MA Thesis, Dominican University of California. https://doi.org/10.33015/dominican.edu/2019.HUM.06 (last access: 2024-10-15).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Melita Lemut Bajec, Judita Giparaitė, Helena Bažec