Cultural Meanings of Zeit in Poverbs: A Comparative Study between Indonesian and German
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26740/paramasastra.v13n1.p39-50Keywords:
time metaphor, German proverbs, Indonesian proverbs, cultural linguistics, comparative studyAbstract
This study investigates the cultural meanings of time (Zeit) in German and Indonesian proverbs through a comparative semantic and pragmatic analysis. Grounded in Cultural Linguistics and Cognitive Semantics, the research examines how time-related proverbs encode culturally shared conceptualizations, metaphors, and value systems. Drawing on selected German proverbs such as Zeit ist Geld, Was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen, Morgenstunde hat Gold im Mund, and Gute Dinge will Weile haben,Kommt Zeit, kommt Rat, Die Zeit heilt alle Wunden and their Indonesian counterparts including Waktu adalah uang, Hari ini harus lebih baik dari hari kemarin Siapa cepat dia dapat, Sedikit demi sedikit, lama-lama menjadi bukit, Ada masanya ada waktunya, and Waktu adalah penyembuh terbaik. The findings reveal that German proverbs predominantly reflect a monochronic, linear, and efficiency-oriented model of time, emphasizing punctuality, productivity, and economic value. In contrast, Indonesian proverbs tend to express a more flexible and process-oriented perspective, highlighting patience, harmony, and gradual progress. Despite these differences, both traditions share universal metaphors such as time as a healer and time as a source of wisdom. The study demonstrates that proverbs serve as linguistic repositories of cultural chronemics and offer valuable insights for intercultural communication and language education.
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