© 2011 ACADEMY PUBLISHER Semantic Derogation in Persian Animal Proverbs

Abstract—In this paper the analysis of Persian animal proverbs is studied based on the semantic – cognitive frame. The main aim of this research is to determine if there is semantic derogation in Persian, and if there is, ascertain whether it applies equally to both sexes (male & female) terms. The analysis shows that sex and semantic derogation are not shown in Persian structures and proverbs as much as other languages, but in the cases with semantic derogation, the metaphorical meanings of the female proverbs connote worse qualities than those connoted by the male proverbs. Index Terms—semantic derogation, animal metaphor, proverb, sexist language I