Anthropocentric Proverbs as an Object of Axiological Interpretation

Abstract. This article explores the axiological significance of paremiological units as culturally embedded linguistic constructs that encode and transmit social values, norms, and behavioral models. Functioning as cognitive and communicative tools, proverbs and sayings reflect national worldviews and reinforce culturally specific stereotypes, particularly gendered ones. Comparative analysis of English and German proverbs reveals a persistent androcentric bias, with male figures idealized and women depicted through negative, emotionally charged traits. Drawing on Ya.A. Pavlishcheva’s theoretical framework, the study underscores the role of paremiological units in shaping individual consciousness and sustaining normative cultural paradigms.