"Descriptive Analysis of Proverbs and Folk Beliefs of the Maraghians of Alamut: A Cultural Study Based on the Approach of Ferbeh Geertz"
Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
PhD candidate in Cultural Sociology, Social Science department, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
2
Assistant Professor of the Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Guilan.
3
Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Abstract
This study examines the proverbs and folk beliefs of the Maraghian community in Alamut from a cultural–semantic perspective, employing Geertz’s thick description approach. The primary aim is to analyze the social and symbolic meanings of these cultural elements and their role in representing ethnic identity and structuring social relations. The findings indicate that the Maraghian proverbs are not
merely linguistic devices but meaningful structures that reinforce cultural values, social norms, and power relations. Some of these proverbs emphasize endogamy, economic independence, and social solidarity, functioning as mechanisms for intergenerational knowledge transmission. Conversely, the community’s folk beliefs are largely rooted in lived experience and interactions with the natural environment, reflecting local perceptions of natural and social phenomena. Results further show that these cultural elements, when faced with social change and modernization, serve as tools for preserving ethnic identity and fostering cultural resilience. The study underscores the importance of documenting and analyzing such cultural elements to enhance understanding of identity formation processes and cultural sustainability in local communities.
merely linguistic devices but meaningful structures that reinforce cultural values, social norms, and power relations. Some of these proverbs emphasize endogamy, economic independence, and social solidarity, functioning as mechanisms for intergenerational knowledge transmission. Conversely, the community’s folk beliefs are largely rooted in lived experience and interactions with the natural environment, reflecting local perceptions of natural and social phenomena. Results further show that these cultural elements, when faced with social change and modernization, serve as tools for preserving ethnic identity and fostering cultural resilience. The study underscores the importance of documenting and analyzing such cultural elements to enhance understanding of identity formation processes and cultural sustainability in local communities.
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