The great and mighty Russian language is difficult to master even for those who speak it from birth, to say nothing of those who are just starting to learn it. Any foreign language is not easy to learn. Of great difficulty is not only the technique of speech and writing, but also the expressions that the Russian-speaking population is so accustomed to expressing themselves. The phrases we are used to, which we utter without thinking, often have a deep meaning that is difficult to understand for an unprepared person. We are talking about proverbs and sayings that have come down to us from ancient times from our ancestors and have been passed down from generation to generation. Folk wisdom is the life experience of people, accumulated over the centuries, it helps to make a decision in a difficult situation. Intricate phrases can not be understood the first time, sometimes you have to rack your brains to understand the meaning of a saying or proverb.
Meaning: "The dog barks - the caravan moves on"
This expression can be interpreted in different ways, it has two meanings, which depend on the punctuation marks placed in the text. In the first case, the saying is divided into two parts by a dash, which means that the parts of the saying are interconnected andare completely equivalent. In a conversation, you can sometimes hear the phrase: "Dogs bark - the caravan moves on." The meaning of this proverb is that the barking of dogs is a sign that a caravan is approaching. Dogs give a kind of signal for readiness. This is due to the fact that the caravan, moving along the path, often becomes a target for attacks by robbers and robbers, and dogs were taken for protection in those days. For this, animals of large breeds were selected, trained to defend and attack on command. The louder they growled, the more likely it was to scare away wild animals and unwanted guests, as well as herald the arrival of goods from other countries.
The saying "Dogs bark, the caravan moves on": the second meaning
In the second case, if a comma is placed between the two parts of the saying, the first will depend on the second. This means that one part is key, while the other is secondary. The two parts of the expression are consistent, unequal and have their own meaning. “The dog is barking, the caravan is moving” is a saying in which the main part is “the caravan is moving”, that is, moving towards the goal, despite the fact that “dogs are barking”. Dogs in this interpretation of the proverb symbolize rumors, gossip, evil tongues and swearing, which are trying to hinder the cause by scolding it. A moving caravan is a matter, an achievement of a goal, a path to a positive outcome. However, do not forget that the barking of a dog is just an empty sound, the result of the envy of ill-wishers, which you just need to ignore.
History of occurrenceproverbs
The roots of this saying originate from antiquity, then its meaning was formed. “The dog barks, the caravan moves on” is a modified proverb that differs from the initial version, but nevertheless has its own separate meaning. The first analogue of this phrase can be considered "The dog barks, the wind carries." The meaning of the saying is that empty rumors quickly spread like the wind, gossip will soon be known in all places. This saying can still be heard in the countries of the East. In the form in which the proverb has come down to us, the caravan was not originally mentioned, it was mistakenly brought there by General A. Lebed, when instead of the phrase “the wind carries”, he said “the caravan is coming”. And so the proverb was born: "Dogs bark, the caravan moves on." The meaning of this proverb is also traced in history.
Symbolism in proverb
Firstly, dogs were often mentioned in proverbs, meaning by them quarrelsome people prone to empty shouting and gossip. Secondly, dogs, on the other hand, were home protectors, loyal friends, and reliable guards. In Asia, the caravan has always been a symbol of stability and order, and in Russia it was quite famous. The emblem of Chelyabinsk depicts a camel, although in the area where the city stands, camels have never been found. Caravans carrying goods passed through those places more than once. This folk wisdom was used by the famous writer Krylov in the fable Passers-by and Dogs. Here is a quote from this fable: “Envious people, no matter what they look at, will always bark; And you go on your own way: they cry yesback off.”
Varieties of the proverb
There are other proverbs among the people, which are closely related to the saying "The dog barks, the caravan moves on." What this phrase means cannot be clearly answered, but you can get closer to the meaning, relying on other similar sayings. Close in meaning and complements "The pig is dead, and grunting is still audible." The pig symbolizes here an evil person, saying bad things and acting badly, and grunting is those bad consequences that remain even after the death of a person in the memory and in people's lives. The modern interpretation of the saying is also "Dogs bark - the Internet wears." In this case, the proverb is a little modernized, because nowadays it is quite a common occurrence when people communicate with each other not live, but over the Web. There is also another version of the proverb "The dog barks - the wind carries, and the caravan moves on", it combines the old and new versions into one.
When a saying is used
There are many situations where a saying is mentioned in a conversation, but the main thing is its meaning. "The dog barks - the caravan moves on" is appropriate to use in public places, at work and in politics. On the street, where traffic is constantly in full swing, there is a high probability of encountering negative emotions of strangers who do not hesitate to express them, not observing the norms of decency. In such cases, the proverb will come in handy, clearly formulated, it will allow, without getting into an argument, to givea decent answer or just to calm your own nerves. The saying fits perfectly into the working day of an entrepreneur who must fulfill certain duties every day, despite the disagreements of his colleagues. Working with clients will also become easier if you remember a wise saying from time to time. This will help you stay focused and stay confident. In some cases, the saying can be taken quite literally, and a caravan is understood as a vehicle that takes people to rest. The dogs in such situations will be the people themselves, watching the procession and expressing their dissatisfaction.
