Introduction

Depending on their cultural settings proverbs like Ei Turkuu päivässä rakennettu, All roads lead to Rome or Cada terra com seu uso cada roca com seu fuso move on several levels of cultural and universal comprehension. Proverbs from different people and different speech areas enable various interpretations. In addition, the same proverb may be used in several contexts and for many purposes. Proverbs have always been liable to bring on problems of translation and of general explanations. They can be classified according to different criteria: historical, linguistic, thematic, educational, logical etc.

Thus, the above described rich diversity of viewpoints among paremiologists (scholars studying proverbs and proverbial expressions) around the world could be canalized to mutual benefit by contributions of complementary cultural fields. At least paremiologists and enthusiasts of proverbs in Europe can unite. This will be the central aim of the Colloquium.

In previous meetings concerning linguistic issues (e.g. http://www.europhras.unizh.ch/english/index.html), historical approaches or dealing with problems of translation paremiology has been only an additional or separate theme of more extensive issues. Paremiologists have not yet taken the bridge-building position they could have been able to have. As experts of tradition and communication paremiologists have a huge potential contribution to mutual understanding between cultures.

Excellent collections of proverbs have been published in Europe since 15th century. The latest international collection providing a wide knowledge of tradition is Dr. Gyula Paczolay´s European Proverbs (1997). There have also been efforts to find criteria for classifying proverbs. One of the recent examples is the international type system of a Finnish academician Matti Kuusi (1914-1998). It is time for Western Europe to take an active role in promoting proverb study and enthusiastic interest in collecting local tradition. This is an effective way to reinforce European identity.

Why?

The Colloquium serves as a real possibility to give an insight into the work done by scholars for those who are enthusiasts of proverbs. On the other hand it will be an important lookout spot for linguists, historians, translators, folklorists, etc. to the fields of each other and to the work the devotees of proverbs have done. We can speak of an international heritage.
The paremiological emphasis will be clearly visible in the aims of the Colloquium:

O1 – discussions of new trends in our communicational and technological epoch
O2 – questions how to motivate young people in cultural preservation and related issues
O3 – perceiving a general view of the state-of-the-art paremiology

To whom?

The Colloquium is meant to researchers, students and other devotees, irrespective of their age; to anybody concerned with questions which have arisen about proverbs and proverbial expressions in their fields of interest. The meeting aims to give highlights to all participants by opening different viewpoints on existing material and forecasting new issues both from theoretical and from practical sides.

What?

The following outline of themes in the Colloquium is brought forth to encourage the participants to submit their contributions (papers, panels, tutorials and workshops) related with paremiology (study of proverbs and proverbial expressions).

A01 – construction of a common European heritage of proverbs; a network of archival sources;
A02 – education by means of proverbs;
A03 – international criteria for classification of proverbs;
A04 – the question of loan proverbs and problems of translation;
A05 – cognitive approach to proverbs (stereotypes, world view etc.);
A06 – origin and functions of proverbs in everyday life; information technology and use of proverbs;
A07 – proverbs and intercultural communication skills; new paradigms for synergy and integration by means of mutual understanding of proverbs.