NEGATIVE NUANCES OF KOREAN COMPARATIVE PROVERBS WITH ZODIAC SIGNS

Abstract

Language is often considered to be the summary of all the experiences of a nation and its cultural heritage. Every nation has its own language and such language reflects the values and characteristics that exist in such society and in such culture. In the negative meanings of Korean comparative proverbs, the environment, the form and the capacity of the animals are related to the bad, difficult, and unfavorable situations; the ugliness and no harmony, inadequacy; the foolishness, limited capacity and little value, etc. The comparative proverbs with zodiac signs clearly reflect the negative aspects in the material and spiritual life, worldview, outlook on life, and the values of the Korean people. The connection with Vietnamese language also shows the close similarities and the unique features of the way of thinking, the language expression as well as the culture of the two nations of Korea and Vietnam.