Ovsianko O. Еvolution stages of Еnglish proverbs: tendency to modifications

Abstract

The article deals with evolution of English proverbs (object of the research) highlighting their occurrence,
tendency of outer and inner structures modifications (subject of the research).
The detailed analysis has showed that English proverbs are flexible, open to transformations, reproduction
and innovations in literary and publicistic discourse. The model of their evolution has been built using the basic
notions of synergetics (science that studies complex open dynamic systems). The attention has been focused on the
fundamental concepts of linguistic synergetics − system, structure, attractor, repeller. The model has
demonstrated dynamic character of proverbs that is reflected in transformations from original to modified. While
traditional proverbs are marked by small volume, colloquial speech and main didactic function, modified proverbs
are distinguished by their transformation.
The perspective of the elaborated problem is outlined in developing linguosynergetics models of English
proverbs in the opposition Good::Evil