Proverbs, which are frequently considered traditional expressions of folk wisdom, continue to have a significant impact on modern spoken discourse.  This study examines the strategic application of proverbs in authentic communicative situations, including political speeches, business negotiations, and family conversations.  The research utilizes a qualitative multiple case study design and includes 45 participants, as well as speech transcripts, recorded meetings, and natural family interactions.  Thematic discourse analysis demonstrated that proverbs fulfill critical pragmatic functions, including the simplification of intricate concepts, the mitigation of conflict, the assertion of authority, and the reinforcement of shared cultural values.  Proverbs were employed by politicians to legitimize their messages and unite audiences, by business leaders to mitigate disagreement and frame uncertainty, and by family elders to manage conflict and maintain harmony.  The results corroborate prior research on the pragmatic and symbolic influence of proverbs (e.g., Wierzbicka, 2003; Mieder, 2004) while also providing novel insights into their function as culturally embedded instruments of social navigation, alignment, and persuasion.  This study underscores the enduring relevance of proverbs in contemporary discourse and suggests that they have the potential to be a fertile area for further investigation in applied linguistics and intercultural communication.

Proverbs; Pragmatic Strategies; Political Discourse; Business Communication; Family Interaction; Cultural Values; Case Study; Sociolinguistics; Figurative Language; Discourse Analysis

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