In his significant article Grzybek discusses the theoretical work of Permiakov and Kanyo as well as such internationally renowned scholars as V.P. Anikin, Pierre Crepeau, Alan Dundes, Algirdas-Julien Greimas, Mathilde Hain, Andre Jolles, Arvo Krikmann, Matti Kuusi, George Milner, Friedrich Seiler, Peter Seitel, Archer Taylor, and others. Proverbs as "einfache Formen" (simple forms) and their heterosituativity, polyfunctionality, and polysemanticity are analyzed, and the author also considers paradigmatic, syntagmatic, logical, and structural aspects. This article is thus a comprehensive survey of major paremiological theories with an emphasis on structural and semiotic aspects.