Images of Children in Amharic and Tigrigna Proverbs

Abstract

This paper comparatively investigated images of children in Amharic and Tigrigna proverbs. Employing conceptual metaphor and critical discourse analysis, the study examined societal beliefs, values, and presumptions about children. Accordingly, it is found that children are commonly portrayed as naïve, honest, lovable, and malleable to any behavioral shape. Still, they are believed to take after their parents’ characters, skills, and actions. Additionally, children from economically advantaged families are seen as destined to succeed, while those from disadvantaged backgrounds are perceived as doomed to suffer. Also, children and women alike are at times viewed as incapable of managing their dispositions. Stepchildren are even more negatively treated and judged by their stepfathers or stepmothers. Children born out of wedlock are considered bad children. Furthermore, authoritarian control over children is considered a good way of correcting children's misbehavior. Thus, the study suggests that curriculum designers, authors, media outlets, policymakers, and NGOs should promote positive views of children and rectify the damaging negative views.