‘Otherness’ in Turkish and English proverbs

The aim of this study is to investigate Turkish and English proverbs related to the concept of otherness to identify similarities and differences between these two languages and cultures. Proverbs including words related to the concept of otherness such as ‘ba？kas？’, ‘el’, ‘elo？lu’, etc. in Turkish and ‘other(s)’ in English and proverbs including words about social relations are analyzed in terms of the point of view they reflect to understand who are considered as “others” in these cultures. Findings indicate that in Turkish idioms, words about others are more frequently used and others are reflected negatively. In Turkish proverbs, the poor, step-children, girls and daughters, women, people with disabilities, Gipsies, Kurds and non-muslims are considered as others. In English proverbs, Indians, Greeks and Frenchmen are obviously seen as others