THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROVERBS, APHORISMS AND OTHER PAREMIOLOGICAL UNITS

This paper examines the relationship between proverbs, aphorisms, maxims, sayings and  weather lore. These short expressions often share a memorable form and a generalizing function, which  makes their classification difficult. Using descriptive and comparative analysis, the paper argues that  authorship, communal circulation, communicative purpose and scope of application offer more useful  distinctions than length or metaphor alone. It also considers how an authored statement may acquire  proverbial status through repeated use