APHORISMS AS SMALL TEXT FORMS: LINGUISTIC, CULTURAL, AND EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVES

Akramov Izzatulla Ikromovich; Xayriyeva Munavvar Shamsiddinovna

Authors

Akramov Izzatulla Ikromovich Author
Xayriyeva Munavvar Shamsiddinovna Author

Abstract

This article excerpt explores aphorisms as concise, semantically dense expressions rooted in human experience, philosophy, and cultural heritage. It traces their historical evolution from Hippocrates' medical aphorisms through medieval and Enlightenment collections, emphasizing their linguopoetic features like metaphor, antithesis, parallelism, and rhythmic structure, as analyzed by scholars such as Jakobson and Lotman. The text positions aphorisms within the broader system of small text forms (e.g., proverbs, epigrams, sententiae), highlighting shared traits—conciseness, imagery, multifunctionality—while noting aphorisms' distinct individuality and authorship compared to collective proverbs. It draws on thinkers like Nietzsche, Burkhardt, and Kundera to underscore aphorisms' role in global communication and modern linguistics, including textology and cognitive semantics. In an EFL context, the discussion advocates for aphorisms as pedagogical tools to boost figurative language comprehension, critical thinking, vocabulary, and cross-cultural awareness, citing Lazar and Carter & McCarthy. Overall, the piece establishes a theoretical framework for aphorisms' maximal semantic impact in minimal form, bridging literary, linguistic, and educational domains amid globalization.

References

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