“A Proverb a Day Keeps Boredom Away.” Anti-Proverbs, Twisted Proverbs, Perverbs and Other Animals

Abstract

What hides behind such mysterious terms as perverbs, anti-, quasi-, and twisted proverbs? What is their status in modern paremiology? Do bona fide proverbs influence their modified versions or vice versa? Do modified proverbs belong to the proverbial family or are they completely distinct linguistic formations? These are some of the many que,stions concerning perverbs, anti-, quasi- and twisted proverbs, ubiquitous nowadays in newspapers, advertisements, cartoons, or health campaigns. As an illustration, the present paper deals with such sayings as No body is perfect; An onion a day keeps everyone away; Man proposes, mother-in-law opposes; He who laughs last, thinks slowest; Where there is a will, there is a war and others. By providing a glimpse into the goldmine of stylistic and conceptual devices used in their creation, this paper attempts to unveil the mechanisms that contribute to the emergence of the novel meanings found in modified proverbs.