Idiomatic expressions from Greek mythology in English and Portuguese: a contrastive study

master's thesis

• Title (portuguese): Expressões idiomáticas da mitologia grega em inglês e português: um estudo contrastivo
• Author: Ramona Javor
• Mentor: Janja Čulig (mentor)
• Mentor: Nina Lanović (mentor)
• Committee member: Janja Čulig (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Nina Lanović (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Marina Grubišić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of Romance languages and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2023-09-15, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Romance Studies

Abstract

Greek mythology is a rich and influential mythology that has significantly impacted language, particularly in the form of idiom motivation. Idioms are often motivated by culturally derived metaphorical extensions. That means that the knowledge of the world, which can be considered the source of idiomatic expressions, enters our everyday language use and thus is connected to our knowledge of the language. In this paper, I explored the topic of idiomatic expressions and their characteristics, classifications, and uses and presented the myths from which the specific idiomatic expressions are derived. Furthermore, I analyzed the equivalence of idiomatic expressions from Greek mythology in two Indo-European languages belonging to different branches, English and Portuguese. Full equivalents include expressions such as Pandora’s box and caixa de Pandora, between Scylla and Charybdis and entre Cila e Caríbdis, sword of Damocles and espada de Dâmocles, etc. Partial equivalents, which include expressions that differ in one or a few lexemes that still belong to the same category, include apple of discord and pomo da discórdia, to rise from the ashes and renascer das cinzas, the shirt of Nessus and túnica de Nessus, etc. The expressions found only in the English sources and those found only in the Portuguese sources include Augean stable, the face that launched a thousand ships, halcyon days, etc. in the case of English and bicho de sete cabeças, tomar a nuvem por Juno, voto de Minerva, etc. in the case of Portuguese. Most idiomatic expressions are full equivalents, and the differences are minimal precisely because the two explored languages belong to the same civilizational circle and to the same language family, even if not to the same branch.

Abstract (croatian)

Grčka mitologija smatra se jednom od najbogatijih i najutjecajnijih mitologija na svijetu pa njezin utjecaj na jezik, posebice u obliku motivacije frazema, ne čudi. U ovom radu istražujem temu frazema i njihovih karakteristika, klasifikacija i uporaba te predstavljam mitove iz kojih su izvedeni određeni frazemi. Nadalje, analiziram razinu ekvivalentnosti frazema iz grčke mitologije u dvama indoeuropskim jezicima koji pripadaju dvjema različitim granama, engleskom i portugalskom. Puni ekvivalenti uključuju izraze poput Pandora’s box i caixa de Pandora, between Scylla and Charybdis i entre Cila e Caríbdis, sword of Damocle i espada de Dâmocles, itd. Djelomični ekvivalenti, koji uključuju izraze koji se razlikuju u jednom ili nekoliko leksema koji još uvijek pripadaju istoj kategoriji, uključuju apple of discord i pomo da discórdia, to rise from the ashes i renascer das cinzas, the shirt of Nessus i túnica de Nessus itd. Idiomatski izrazi koji se nalaze samo u engleskim i oni koji se nalaze samo u portugalskim izvorima uključuju Augean stable, the face that launched a thousand ships, halcyon days, itd. u slučaju engleskog i bicho de sete cabeças, tomar a nuvem por Juno, voto de Minerva, itd. u slučaju portugalskog. Većina idiomatskih izraza su puni ekvivalenti, a razlike su minimalne upravo zato što dva istražena jezika pripadaju istom civilizacijskom krugu i istoj jezičnoj obitelji, iako ne i istoj grani.

Abstract (portuguese)

A civilização grega teve um grande impacto na civilização ocidental em geral. Considerando as ligações entre o conhecimento linguístico e o conhecimento extralinguístico (conhecimento da língua e conhecimento do mundo), não é de admirar que a mitologia grega tenha influenciado fortemente as línguas indo-europeias, incluindo o inglês e o português. Na primeira parte do trabalho, foi apresentada a parte teórica. As expressões idiomáticas foram definidas e classificadas. Os tópicos das expressões idiomáticas em uso também foram explorados teoricamente. De seguida, foram apresentados os mitos gregos dos quais derivam as expressões idiomáticas específicas. Finalmente, todas as expressões idiomáticas foram comparadas com as suas respectivas frequências para compreender o seu nível de convencionalização na língua atual. A língua inglesa e a língua portuguesa, como duas línguas indo-europeias pertencentes ao mesmo círculo civilizacional, partilham a base grega da sua cultura, o que pode ser visto na transferência metafórica dos mitos e lendas gregos para a língua e a vida quotidianas. Como testemunhado na parte de análise do documento, partilham a maioria das expressões idiomáticas e as diferenças são mínimas.

• Keywords: Greek mythology; mythology; myth; phraseology; idiomatic expressions; equivalence analysis; English language; Portuguese language
• Keywords (croatian): grčka mitologija; mitologija; mit; frazeologija; frazemi; analiza ekvivalentnosti; engleski jezik; portugalski jezik
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:804354
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation; Course: Linguistics; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Study programme: Title: Portuguese Language and Literature (double major); Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra portugalskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra portugalskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Access restricted to authenticated users
• Created on: 2023-09-23 19:48:16