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This paper identifies the axiological aspects and distinctive semantic qualities of animal proverbs, with the following principal contents.
First, axiology has traditionally been a matter of interest in the fields of philosophy, ethics, and aesthetics, which deal with the question of value. However, in Cognitive Linguistics, significant results have also been achieved in terms of conceptualizing the value of worldly affairs and the value of language from the same standpoint.
Second, the animal proverb is a representative text that reveals axiological aspects of the language. An analysis of major Korean animal proverb dictionaries in this study resulted in the finding that the frequency of references to animals is in the order of: dogs, cattle, tigers, horses, chickens, pigs, cats, rats, crows, and birds. Moreover, more weight is given in these proverbs to negative values than to positive values. Animals associated with positive values include grubs, the Chinese phoenix, swallows, spiders, cranes, bears, and ants. Those with negative values ascribed to them include dogs, fowls, cattle, rats, cats, crows, birds in general, sparrows, ants, pheasants, bears, flies, fish, lice, snakes, and mice, amongst others.
Third, the axiology of animal proverbs is divided broadly into the axiology of animals themselves and human figurative axiology. In terms of human figurative axiology, simile axiology is effective in the personification of typical animal features, whereas metaphorical axiology is effective in personifying a particular feature of the animals’ appearance, movement, and instinctive behavior. Mental Space axiology, on the other hand, is effective in the personification of implications due to the contrast between the positive and negative values.
Lastly, the axiological aspects of animal proverbs are culture specific. Since the majority of animal proverbs in Korea were formed in a traditional agricultural society and therefore describe different sentiments to those of the present day, it would appear that an examination into this aspect is necessary, and an axiological comparative study between animal proverbs in the Korean language and other cultures is to be recommended.