Communicative-functional approach to the learning of phenomenon “silence” in proverbs and sayings (on the basis of Russian, English, and German folk proverbs

Silence as communicative meaningful element often becomes an object in the works of modern linguists. Interrupting oral speech, a man is thinking constantly, processes of internal verbalization continue to function. So silence is a process of communication and can cause different psychological and social factors

The aim of this research is study of silence phenomenon in Russian, English, German linguo-cultures on the basis of folk sayings, which is realized by this phenomenon in the frame of communicative-functional approach. A set goal predisposes to solve a great deal of tasks:

1) to design theoretical-methodological basis of research;

2) to collect and systematize empirical corpus of investigation;

3) to detect a characteristic functions of proverbs about silence in comparative languages;

4) to carry out a static analysis and determine a quantitative proportion of proverbs and sayings with performed functions in 3 languages;

5) to determine a role of phenomenon of silence in comparative linguo-cultures.

Scientific novelty is due to insufficient study of communicative-functional approach in proverbs and sayings about silence. First a comparative- contrastive and static analysis of proverbs and sayings with silence component is carried out in Russian, English, German languages.

Methods of research has a complex character. A comparative- contrastive method, method of word definitions, method of full field enumeration from dictionaries and special reference-books, statistical and descriptive methods are used.

A performed analysis of communicative proverbs with component silence in comparative linguo-cultures are based on files of research, made by method of full field and special enumeration, which has 100 Russian, English, German proverbs and sayings. 

Results of comparative-contrastive analysis is described in the Table 1.

As it is shown in the table, informative function is one of widely spread in proverbs and sayings about silence in Russian, English, German languages. Axiologic function of proverbs, fixed to a folk representation, is shown by an average indicators (from 18 to 23% cases of usage). Besides, common for 3 linguo-cultures is the fact that constant function is represented in card index  (9 cases of usage in Russian language, 5 – in English and 4 – in German).

It is interesting to point out that in card index of Russian and English proverbs with component silence informative function is dominant in quantitive proportion i.e. silence can signalize about agreement and disagreement to perform something, otherwise German proverbs and sayings in the majority of cases (38%) summons to silence, performing a directive role. 

Practical relevance is in possibility of results application in different cognitive- discourse scientific research, development  of special courses in comparative paremiology, pragmalinguistics, linguo-culture etc.

Interest of linguists in this phenomenon is due to modern tendencies in linguistics, such as integration, communication, culture-centricity and so on. However, the important principle is consideration of human factor

In this article silence is considered to be as a non-verbal communication, during which a definite intention of addressee is used.

Let`s tackle the definitions of silence in comparative languages: ”Explanatory Dictionary of Russian Language” S.I. Ozhegov explains the verb to keep silence: not to pronounce a sound, don`t talk about anything

1) the condition of silence;

2) absence of noise;

3) rejection or impossibility to speak;

4) pause; period of silence

At present time, many investigations are carried out, focused on establishment of relevant silence signs as communicative act.  However, silence becomes a communicative- meaningful if it has a definite intention, which is perceived by addressee 

During analysis of functional aspects in folk sayings about silence in Russian, English, German languages we managed to establish private functions. In English, there is no a separate lexem, named silence.  Along with silence this means by word  Silence:

1) the state or quality of being silent (condition of silence);

2) the absence of sound or noise; stillness (absence of noise, silence);

3) refusal or failure to speak, communicate, etc, when expected (refusal and impossibility to speak);

4) a period of time without noise (pause; period of silence);

In modern linguistics, different views on the problem of context and its structure.  Without saying, concept is a unit of mentality and representation in language with the help of units of different levels. We can talk about 2 concepts: linguo-cultural and linguo-cognitive, which are not contrastive but complementary trends. We can trace processes of weak equivalents formation:

1. reduction of semantic meaning in borrowing word but preservation in the language-source.

2. redistribution of semantic meaning leads to lacunarnost.

So weak equivalents only partly passes lexical meaning of prototype and eventually can be used in the translation practice. Vereshagin E. M., Kostomarov V. G. defines non-equivalental lexics as "words, using for expression notions, absent in a culture, in a language, characteristic for culture A, absent in culture B". Lexical equivalents of these words in translations, its character and means of transmission of non-equivalent words are taught and described by metres of translation theory and modern investigators (Fedorov A. V., Vinogradov V. S.) The problem of lacunas is put by the investigators in comparative aspect of two different languages (Lipatova Yu.Yu, Muraviev V. L., Sorokin Y. S.). A valuable component of concept in aspect “silence” is opened due to paremia with a nominative density, in consequence, meaningful for native speakers. “Better to keep silence than talk”, is different to “Silence is manifestation of wisdom”. But silence is not always positively valued in English linguo-culture. It can be a manifestation of foolishness and danger. Silence is associated with troubles. A similar installation – silence instead of sounds has danger and reflects in micro concept «Silence of the world / Тишина окружающего мира», which is charaterized by considerable less nominative density, than micro concept «Silence connected with the human / Тишина, связанная с человеком».

It should be marked that phraseological unit, objecting external silence of man, is accompanied with negative connotations, rather than units, representing silence. Apparently, it can be a consequence of external silence perception as a manifestation of foreign, hostile to a person world, at the same time silence is considered to be a manifestation of personal activity and ambivalent mark is explained in its own world. Silence association with death is represented in phraseological unit dead silence; (as) still as death (grave); (as) silent as the grave, realized as an image component of investigating concept. Death and grave in this phraseologisms are reference of absolute silence. It is necessary to point out that these phraseologisms due to their inner form, have a negative connotations – for a man such silence is not comfortable and evil. All these phraseological units reflect archetypal manifestation about silence and death relationship, inherent mythological consciousness.

Dead silence – "a dead silence, deathly silence";

(as) still as death (grave) – "silent";

(as) silent as the grave – "quiet as a grave";

the Great Stillness – euphemism "great silence", "death";

deafening silence – "unusual silence";

Beware of a silent dog and still water – "There are devils in that pool"

1) An axiologic function reflects a relationship of lingvoculture to silence. It should be taken into consideration that Russian and German people express approval to silence with evaluation tokens: «лучше», "worse", "better", "besser", "das Beste": Лучше молчать, нежели врать

2) Directive function is in sayings with imperative function of silence. In this case it is said that interlocutor should cease to speak.  Знаючи – говори, а не знаючи – молчи

3) Emotive function in proverbs is directly connected with possibility to express psychological conditions and people`s experiences (joy, sadness, shame, fear, etc.). It was determined that in some situations silence can be perceived as a suitable approach of emotional events expressions. Говорить беда, а молчать другая

4) Informative function of silence is in different interpretation of man`s silence in the conditions of definite communicative situation: Молчание – знак согласия

5) Constant function in proverbs and sayings is realized in introduction of the communicant a definite comment in reaction to interlocutor`s silence.  In such cases a folk wisdom is a means of description interlocutor`s silence: Замолчал как воды в рот набрал

The performed analysis of communicative functions of proverbs and sayings about silence in comparative linguo-cultures is based on research`s files, made by  method of full field enumeration, which includes 100 Russian, English and German proverbs and sayings.   

So we can make conclusions:

1. Russian, English, German proverbs and sayings with component silence can perform axiologic function and in the majority of cases gives a positive evaluation of silence phenomenon in comparative linguo-cultures. Axiologic function of investigated proverbs is characterized by emotional state, easy memorability and idiomatics. 

2. Performing a directive function, proverbs and sayings in comparative languages implicitly demonstrates prohibitive direction, as imperative forms of the verb «молчать»/ «to be silent» / «schweigen» have a similar meaning of a negative command “not to speak”.

3. Sayings of Russian, English, German people can express relation to silence while psychological conditions of people  (joy, grief, anger, sadness, etc.). It should be taken into consideration that in comparative linguo-cultures silence is evaluated as a pause, important for the best way out.

4. In linguistic world, picture of comparative languages silence is correlated with the answer, sign of agreement and safety, etc. It was detected that in spite of similarity, a different attitude to silence exists.  

5. Constant function of sayings with component silence in Russian, English, German languages is characterized by frequent use of silence conditions with different realia from surrounding world.  

We determine communicative-pragmatic characteristics of English, Russian, German proverbs and sayings. Peculiarities of using proverbs in comparative languages were analyzed. Silence has different meanings in cultures, so it is characterized by polysemy and multi-functionality. So, proverbs transfers people's experience, customs, way of thinking. The research of proverbs gives a possibility to know about stereotypes, mode of life, nation's traditions. Semantic and functional variation of proverbs and sayings provides a wide possibilities to use them in different contextual conditions. To solve these tasks a comparative-contrastive method, method of phraseological description, method of word definitions, method of full field enumeration from dictionaries and special reference-books, statistical and descriptive methods were used.

We can conclude, that phenomenon of silence in proverbs and sayings of different people represent a unique layer of folk wisdom, demonstrating relation to different nations to silence. From communicative function's side, silence can be considered not only a way of communication but a pause also. Also, silence as a linguistic phenomenon opens a wide horizon for future scientific researches in the field of cognitive linguistics, pragma-linguistics, paremiology, linguo-culture and other parts of linguistics.