A sociocultural Analysis of Animal Connotations in English and Algerian Arabic proverbs

Abstract

Proverbs serve as cultural legacies, reflecting societal values, lifestyles, and beliefs across generations. This study aims to investigate the different animals’ connotations in Arabic and English proverbs, and find out any similarities and differences in the meanings of dogs, cats, and wolves in these two cultures. Using Ben Salamh and Maalej's model, 42 Arabic and 45 English proverbs were analyzed. The research findings revealed some similarities and differences in the connotations of animals. It was founded that in the western culture, dogs are conceived positively, unlike cats and wolves. Conversely, in the Arabic culture, all these three animals are visualized negatively although they may have one or two positive treats. Therefore, it is recommended that foreign language teachers and learners should be aware of these similarities and differences to avoid any communicative breakdown or cultural misunderstanding.