THE VALUE OF FAMILY IN PROVERBS AND SAYINGS OF FOLKS LIVING IN THE TERRITORY OF THE EU

Proverbs always played a very important role in the life of folks as they accumulate the experience of previous generations and show the attitude to different issues. They cover all spheres of life, including private relations. The article analyses the most wide-spread proverbs and sayings of the folks living in the European countries that are devoted to the issues of love and family (239 units). It presents differences and similarities in the linguistic world view of different ethnic groups. The groups of proverbs under study are Love , Marriage , Husband & Wife , Parents & Children , and Home . The statistical analysis has shown that the biggest number of proverbs is devoted to love making it the most discussed issue (108 units). Among the countries where the topic of love and family is one of the most important there are Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and Romania (more than 20 units). In the research to select the material for the purpose of study the author used a continuous sampling method, registration and processing of the data received, observation, analysis of each group of proverbs, a comparative analysis of the proverbs, statistical method. Proverbs of the group Love describes different type of love. Proverbs of the group Marriage give the characteristic of the types of marriages. Proverbs of the group Husband & Wife consider the relations between spouses. Most of the proverbs are devoted to wives giving them different treatment. Proverbs of the group Parents & Children describe relations between generations. Both parents and children may behave good or bad. Proverbs of the group Home are devoted to attitude to homes. Home is considered as the best and most important place for people.