Changes of Proverbs in Form and Meaning: The Case of Croatian ‘Odjeća ne čini čovjeka čovjekom’ (Clothes Do Not Make the Man).

This article deals with changes of form and meaning of the Croatian proverb‘Odjeća ne čini čovjeka čovjekom’ (Clothes do not make the man). The analysis is done on the basis of its use in newspaper articles and spoken communication. Furthermore, the data are interpreted within the framework of cognitive semantics. The analysis shows that the proverb is often used in modified form and that it has changed its form from negative to positive. Most of the informants recognize its modified form ‘Odijelo ne čini čovjeka’ (The suit does not make the man) as the original one. From the cognitive semantic point of view, changes analysed in relation to the concept of basic conceptual metaphor point to changes in the socio-cultural context and to perception of the importance of (outward) appearance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]