A Sociocultural View of Estonian and Slovenian Proverbs on Alcohol and Drinking

Abstract

This article explores Estonian and Slovenian proverbs related to alcohol and drinking with the aim of interpreting these proverbs in their broader sociocultural context and analysing the controversies embedded in proverbs on this topic. Considering that alcohol is not consumed in the same form everywhere, the article examines Slovenian material as representative of the geographical region of Southern Europe and the Slavic language group, and Estonian material as representative of the geographical region of Northern Europe and the Finno-Ugric language group. The units encompassed by the research contain the following words: wine, beer, spirits (vodka), drunk, and drinking. We analyse how proverbs—as culturally metaphorical units often considered the cornerstone of national identity and a compass of ethnic morals—fit into this ethnic pretext. We focus on three different aspects: those regarded as specific to national culture; gender and family (gender inequality, drinking alcohol as a symbol of masculinity); and the ambivalence surrounding drinking.