Persian proverbs

Proverbs, a cornerstone of folk literature, transmit societal thoughts and experiences across generations through concise and impactful sentences. Virtually every facet of human experience is reflected in proverbs, including the concept of peace, which is richly represented in Persian tradition. This study examines 30 Persian proverbs related to peace, employing a systemic-functional linguistics framework to analyze their ideational, interpersonal, and textual functions. The findings reveal that these proverbs frequently utilize or imply a relational process. Circumstantial elements within these processes often serve to compare peace with war, or to provide justification for the prioritization of peace. In terms of interpersonal function, the consistent use of the present tense underscores the timeless relevance of peace. Regarding textual function, the placement of peace-related concepts in the thematic position emphasizes their centrality for the audience. Furthermore, the cohesive juxtaposition of peace with war, or related concepts, reinforces the imperative to avoid conflict.