SEMANTIC FIELDS IN PROVERBS: A CROSS-LINGUISTIC STUDY OF HONOR AND SHAME IN ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN

Abstract

This article examines the semantic fields of honor and shame as expressed in English and Russian proverbs. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of paremiology and cross-linguistic semantics, the study analyzes how these two moral concepts are encoded, framed, and transmitted through proverbial language in each cultural tradition. The analysis shows that English proverbs tend to present honor as an individual achievement based on personal conduct and reputation, while shame is linked to public exposure and loss of social standing. Russian proverbs, by contrast, frame honor as a collective moral obligation rooted in community values, and shame as a deeply ethical failure that affects both the individual and the group. Despite these cultural differences, both traditions treat honor and shame as central forces that regulate social behavior and guide moral development. The findings suggest that proverbs function as cultural mirrors, reflecting the values and priorities of the societies that produce them.