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CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF ZOOMORPHIC PHRASEOLOGY IN ENGLISH, RUSSIAN AND KAZAKH
N. V. Potseluyeva, T. N. Fedulenkova
Статья посвящена сопоставительному анализу фразеологических единиц с зооморфным компонентом в трех дальнородственных языках: английском, русском и казахском. Работа нацелена на выявление общих и специфических характеристик исследуемых ФЕ.
Keywords: phraseological units, contrastive analysis, genetic prototype, semantic transformation, metaphor.
The paper is dedicated to contrastive analysis of English, Russian and Kazakh phraseological units (PUs) based on metaphor, which is considered to be one of the most frequent types of semantic transformation of the genetic prototype of idioms and other phraseological units [7. C. 125]. The theoretical base of the paper is A. V. Kunin’s method of phraseological identification [5. C. 38], V. D. Arakin’s method of typological comparison [1. C. 25; 2. C. 34] and the phraseological conception of crosscultural communication initiated by E. F. Tarasov [6. C. 7]. The research investigates culturally marked associations that characterize the concepts “war” and “peace” represented by means of animal terms, or zoomor-phisms, as constituent parts of English, Russian and Kazakh PUs, gives their analysis and comparison. Our attention is focused on positive and negative evaluation of the concepts “war” and “peace” in the language picture of the world in different cultures.
The term “a language picture of the world” for the first time appeared in
L. Vitgenstein’s works, devoted to researches in the field of philosophy and logic. Further it starts to be used in other sciences which center of studies is the person and its interaction with the world around. Modern linguists, such as N. D. Arutyunova, A. P. Babushkin, G. V. Kolshansky, A. N. Leontjev, V. N. Teliya, consider a picture of the world as ideal formation which consists of structurally organized components, possesses the certain properties, carries out functions inherent in it and naturally develops.
As a language picture of the world in work it is understood historically developed in ordinary consciousness of the given language community and the set of images reflected in language, concepts, stereotypes and
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the symbols, representing knowledge of certain people of world around which consciousnesses at a level are stored in the form of concepts. The concept has no unequivocal interpretation in a science about the language at the present stage of its development. Various points of view on the concept in linguistics have been presented by Y. S. Stepanov, E. S. Ku-bryakova, V. I. Karasik, A. Vezhbitskaya, etc. In our understanding the concept is the unit of collective knowledge/ consciousness obtaining the maximum cultural wealth, having language expression and characterized by ethnocultural specificity.
War as a political phenomenon finds a conceptual embodiment in English, Kazakh and Russian-speaking pictures of the world. Concepts “War” and “Peace” are cultural concepts which basic maintenance in the English, Russian and Kazakh languages is reduced to the following attributes:
- the detail-shaped part of the concept is the generalized image of opposition and friendship of the parties;
- the conceptual part of the concept is a language designation of characteristics of war and a peace life;
- the valuable part of the concept is explicit and implicit norms of behavior accepted in a society.
The concepts under study are numerously displayed in the English, Russian and Kazakh languages, being expressed, mainly, in semantics of phraseological units in the form of universal attributes of war and peace. Concepts “War” and “Peace” concerning abstract names are structured metaphorically in investigated language pictures of the world and have a trope expression in compared languages.
In a modern anthropological paradigm of linguistic researches in which different aspects of reflection of the human factor in language are presented, the reference to the metaphorical models describing the person on the basis of different kinds of figurative analogies is natural. Metaphorical modelling of fragments of a language picture of the world is based on the fact that “practically all objects of reality potentially possess ability to expression of this or that attribute” [4. C. 69]. However language is selective in a choice of figurative correlations: characteristic function of associative analogue is received, first of all, by that which is valuably marked in consciousness of native speakers. Thus “... created and kept in memory of association concern to various levels and possess the universal, national, social, professional or subjective-personal status” [4. C. 69]. Metaphor, being the universal way of a nomination based
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on associations on similarity, at the same time includes the subjective factor of perception of the validity: collective, socially “filtered”, and individual estimations meant. One of the most popular models of a metaphorical nomination is the metaphor of zoomorphism, which cognitive source serves “an image” of an animal, transferred on the person. Such metaphors are ethno-culturally marked and arouse special interest to their study in the comparative aspect.
The zoomorphic metaphor models an image of the person by a principle of “mirror reflection”: on the one hand, to an image of an animal are attributed anthropomorphic properties (character traits, behavior, a way of life of the person), on the other hand, this image is projected on the person to whom characteristics of zoomorphisms (habits, customs, appearance of an animal) are attributed. On the basis of this cognitive mechanism universal typological models of zoomorphic metaphors are formed: “appearance of an animal - appearance of the person”, “behavior of an animal - behavior of the person”, etc.
Social-political phenomena “War” and “Peace” play an exclusively important role in Russian-speaking and Kazakh-speaking cultures and an essential role in English-speaking one. To these phenomena a set of researches in the field of philosophy are devoted, as well as of sociology, psychology, history, political science. In the linguistic literature the given phenomenon opposition gets plural and different language designation in Russian, Kazakh and English languages, including that in the form of metaphorical zoomorphisms. The following hypothesis is put forward to form a basis of the research: concepts “War” and “Peace” represent complex mental formation in which it is possible to allocate the certain attributes partially conterminous in Russian, Kazakh and English-speaking pictures of the world. The given concepts are reflected in language units of different types and characterized by national specificity; they are cultural concepts, i.e. they have figurative, conceptual and valuable characteristics. The metaphorical zoomorphisms are organized in, joined in a language picture of the world as the structured fragment of the estimated characteristic of the person.
We consider, the cross-cultural approach is the most productive for the analysis of a metaphor in comparative aspect as in the focus of such analysis there is an ethnocultural specificity of figurative symbolics of nominative units. Papers of a number of linguists have been devoted to the cultural aspect in research of metaphor: I. V. Zakharenko, R. F. Ilyasov, V. I. Karasik, E. M. Vereshchagin, M.M. Kopylenko, V. G. Kostoma-
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rov, D. B. Gudkov, V. N. Teliya, etc. This aspect allows to investigate not only semantic structure of a word, but also to describe it in diverse communications, in alive functioning, in a context of concrete culture inclusive. Thus the special role for the description of metaphorical nominations is got with concept connotation which is considered as a way of influence on the addressee, and the attribute underlying metaphorical carries, serves for expression of the emotive-estimated and stylistic-marked attitude of the subject of speech to the validity.
Judging by the results of the metaphorical analysis of zoomorphisms in the English and Russian languages the following aspects of war are negatively estimated:
UNLEASHING. Let loose the dogs of war - to lower dogs of war - to unleash a war, wake a sleeping dog - to wake a sleeping dog - to embitter the dangerous person, beard the lion in his den - to attack the enemy in its own dwelling, fearlessly to challenge to the dangerous opponent, разбудить спящего пса - to embitter the dangerous person, ат цуйрыгын Kecin кету - to cut a tail to a horse - to become the foe, am кектт Kecicy - to cut bangs of horses to the conflicting parties - to tear communications, attitudes with someone.
ATTACK. Swoop like the eagle - to rush as a kite to extraction, залетел как ястреб - has flown promptly, unexpectedly, налететь коршуном - promptly and spitefully to throw on someone, арадай (араша) талау - to bite, as a plenty of bees - to attack from different directions, цутырган цасцыр тигендей болды - as the flown mad wolf, цыргидай тию - to attack, as the hawk - to exterminate ruthlessly.
ENMITY. To live cat and dog life - как кошка с собакой, ит пен мысыцтай - to be always snarling and quarreling, as cats and dogs, whose aversion to each other is intense, черная кошка пробежала -there was a quarrel, quarrel between someone, ит ыржъщ - misunderstanding, friction, the dog squabbles.
SLAUGHTER. Shoot the sitting duck (or pheasant) - to shoot on a sedentary duck (pheasant) - to ruin the person, having taken advantage of its feebleness, покалечить как Бог черепаху (to cripple as the God a turtle) - to spoil, mutilate, кок ала цойдай цылу (ету) - to make similar motley sheep - to beat someone badly.
TREACHERY. A cat in the pan - traitor, yellow dog - the mean, cowardly person, the contemptible essence.
COWARDICE. Заячья душа/ натура, труслив как заяц - the cowardly person, цоян журек - the hare heart - a cowardly, shy person.
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HORRORS AND CONSEQUENCES OF WAR. The dogs of the war - the horrors of war, especially famine, sward and fire, Kill smb like a dog - to kill as a dog, показать где раки зимуют (to show where cancers winter) - to teach a good lesson, severely to punish someone, шацырагына ат ойнату - to tread on a horse shanyrak (the top part of urta - the portable dwelling of the Kazakhs) - to finish with someone, жылан (куйе) жалагандай - as if the snake licked - all has disappeared, became absolutely empty, басы айдауда, малы талауда - in a captivity, all cattle is stolen - enemy, devastating attack.
Metaphorical zoomorphisms are referred to the model “War is a fauna” for which conceptual vectors of cruelty and the aggression are significant, therefore the given model abounds with designations of the actions inherent in predatory animals that causes disturbing associations, feeling of danger. At the same time as objects of a positive estimation the following situations act:
DISPLAY OF COURAGE, BOLDNESS. Fight like a lion - драться, сражаться как лев, аs brave as a lion - храбрый как лев, (аs) game as a cockerel - desperately courageous, dared as the cock, арыстан жYректi - lion’s heart, brave, 6opi бет батылдъщ - the wolf boldness.
PRESENCE OF FIGHTING EXPERIENCE. War horse - fighting horse, the veteran, матерый волк - the skilled, knowing person, the old salt - the skilled seaman, кэрi тарлан - old racer, old horse -much tested for the century, very skilled person.
THE HELP IN FIGHT. Ат суйек беру - to assist a horse - to pick up the glorified soldier at whom in fight the horse perishes, and to plant on other horse.
The theme of conflicts and wars has always taken an important place in consciousness of the person, and it is possible to tell without exaggeration, that the history of mankind as a whole and the history of each separate civilization is a history of wars. In the English language consciousness the concept “War”, in most cases, is explicated by means of metaphorical zoomorphisms a dog and a horse, etc., which cultural value is difficult to overestimate, knowing the history of wars of England and the love of Englishmen to hunting. For example, zoomorphism to hold with the hare and run with the hounds means “to play a double and deceitful game, to be a traitor in the camp”.
In Russian the realization of the concept “War” might be explained by a historical course of establishing and development of the Russian state: its history has developed in such a way that practically almost every
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generation has experienced war or its consequences, therefore military lexicon has formed a whole layer of the language. Military experience traditionally found and continues to find the reflection in national mentality. It gives us the basis to draw a conclusion that the concept under study may be numbered among culturally significant ones. In the Kazakh language consciousness the concept “War” is more often realized through the metaphorical zoomorphisms designating pets: цойдай ергизт, цозыдай квгендедг -to graze as sheep - completeness of authority. Historically it is explained by a nomadic way of life of the Kazakhs. Military actions were in most cases - attacks of one sort on another which often had an extortionate, devastating character - they took away property, withdrew cattle.
As a result of comparison of metaphorical zoomorphisms describing the concept “War” in English, Russian and Kazakh, it has been found out that similarity between them is observed in fundamental values both of moral, and utilitarian character. So, the images of a cat and a dog invariably designate the conflicting parties, and the image of a lion associates with courage in the language pictures in all the three languages compared. Distinctions lie in the way of expression, distribution and combination theory of norms, in the degree of their urgency for the compared pictures of the world. The researcher’s attention is drawn by the specificity of the images that accompanies designations of the concept of submission and suppression. In English it is a comparison of the big and small fishes, in Russian - twisting in the mutton horn, in Kazakh - a stick and a horse.
The corpora analyzed testifies to the fact that in all cultures the universal values defining norms of behavior of the language person are significant. Peaceful existence is the purpose of any person, any state. Each country aspires to be independent, to find freedom, to live in riches and, at the same time, to protect the interests, to maintain friendly relations with other states.
Concept “Peace” is represented by the following zoomorphisms:
FRIENDSHIP. Мы с тобой как рыба с водой - inseparable friends, цулынетайдай айцасты - friends are unseparable as a foal and a two-year-old horse.
FREEDOM. The dove of peace, голубь мира - symbol of the world, вольная птица (free bird) - the free, independent person, жить как птица небесная (to live as a bird heavenly) - to live carefree, не нужна соловью золотая клетка, а нужна зеленая ветка (the gold cell is not necessary to a nightingale, but the green branch is necessary) - freedom is better than riches, бацыт цусы - bird of happiness.
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ABUNDANCE. Live like a fighting cock - to live in luxury. Fighting cocks used to be high fed in order to aggravate their pugnacity and increase their powers of endurance, loaves and fishes - earthly blessings, есек цурты мурнынан myemi - to get rid from difficulties, to achieve a good life, ац туйетц царны жарылу - to belly of a white camel to be unstitched - a joyful feast on the occasion of a victory.
The comparative analysis of conceptual metaphorical zoomorphisms in the English, Russian and Kazakh language pictures of the world has revealed national stereotypes, valuable orientations, and also allocated both universal and specific metaphorical dominants in representation of the world, e.g. representation of freedom which is associated with a bird by the Englishmen, Russians and Kazakhs. The specificity of the Kazakh phraseological unit: цой устте бозторгай жумыртцалаган (уялаган) заман is evident: it means the time when the lark lays eggs (nests) on a sheep, which designates a happy, serene life, peace time, prosperity. The phraseological unit is formed to designate a certain historical period in the life of a society when peace and general prosperity come, when the people get riches and prosperity. In visual representation it is possible, when on backs of peacefully grazed sheep raise the jacks and steppe larks hatch an egg in them. That symbolizes a peaceful, fertile life in a society.
Thus, in the Russian, English and Kazakh languages, with all their dissimilarity of lexical and grammatical systems, there are universal metaphors. Similarity of images consists in that “different languages, independently from each other, resort to identical metaphorical transferences” [3. С. 32]. Such similarity of thinking reveals the conventional nature of metaphorical images in different linguistic cultures and it explains the existence of basic metaphorical models in languages which is a universal way to represent the concepts.
As a result we see what conceptual sphere “fauna” is used equally widely in English, Kazakh and Russian pictures of the world, i.e. metaphor borrowed from the world of wildlife is traditionally an important part of a conceptual picture of the world in language consciousness of the person. The metaphorical models under study reveal evident cultural bias and reflection of features of national mentality and political traditions. We have found out that the language picture of the world possesses numerous ethno-specific features that are caused by historical, social, psychological, and many other factors. Phenomena of war and peace as social and political ones represent fragments of a language picture of the world.
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The research shows that concepts “War” and ”Peace” find frequent and various display in the Russian, Kazakh and English languages, being expressed by the semantics of phraseological units of different levels in the form of universal features of war and peace. Specificity of the features consists in the originality of their combinatory models. In a linguistic-cultural approach the most valuable are metaphorical zoomorphisms which interpretation has allowed us to find out similarities and distinctions in reflection of the certain fragment of world around in consciousness of the people speaking different languages. At the level of frame structure the greatest distinctions caused by specificity of national languages and national consciousness are found out. Research of metaphorical models concepts “War” and “Peace” reveals the models of most evidently reflected cultural traditions and features of national mentality of native speakers.
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