Les imatges del mes d'abril i de la mar a la fraseologia catalana i alemanya: un estudi comparatiu de les característiques nacionals i internacionals

Abstract

Attempts to show national traits in phraseology have not hitherto been very convincing. However, it cannot be denied that they do reflect the peculiarities of a specific culture. From the comparison of Catalan and German proverbs and idioms for the pictures of the month of April on the one hand and for the sea and the ocean on the other hand, the following differences can be determined: For April, the seasonally more advanced stage of plant and animal development in Catalonia finds its resonance in the phraseology. The German proverbs and proverbial sayings emphasize the instability of the month (e.g. with regard to weather conditions), in contrast to the Catalan ones, which emphasize more its insidiousness. As for the sea, for the Catalans it is a source of wealth, honour and health. These images are missing in German, where, on the other hand, seashores and borders play a major role. The German phrasemes for both April and the sea often have a figurative meaning as well.