Metaphorical use of Russian verbs naming properties of plants

Khu Yangyixin Postgraduate student, Department of Russian Language, Joint University of MSU-SPI in Shenzhen, Lomonosov Moscow State University 518172, Kitai, Guandun oblast', g. Shen'chzhen', ul. Zhui, 299 huyangyixin@gmail.com Other publications by this author

    Due to their universality and widespread use, metaphors have long been the focus of linguists' attention. In linguistic science, metaphor is considered as a stylistic means, a means of nomination, as well as a way to create a linguistic picture of the world. In her work "Metaphorization and its role in creating a linguistic picture of the world", V. N. Telia presented in detail the idea of the cognitive and indicative functions of metaphors in creating a linguistic picture of the world, as well as the role of metaphor as a model for creating new concepts (for more details, see ^[6]), which allowed us to study the problems of metaphors both in the intra-linguistic (nominative-functional, derivational and structural-semantic), as well as in interlanguage aspects.

    It is well known that it is common for a person to describe and perceive new concepts through already well-known entities and ready-made names. The metaphor in this nominative process is a "model of meaning production" (V. N. Telia's term). As V. N. Telia notes, "in essence, a metaphor is a model that performs the same function in a language as a word-formation model, but only more complex and, moreover, acting "covertly" and "non-standard" ^{[6, p.180]}. The concept of a metaphorical model is defined as "a typical correlation of semantics existing in the minds of native speakers in the relations of direct motivation of primary and secondary meanings, which is a model for the emergence of new secondary meanings" ^{[8, p.35]}. J. Lakoff and M. Johnson believe that "a metaphorical model is an existing and emerging scheme in the mind of a native speaker connections between conceptual spheres, which can be represented by a certain formula: X is Y" ^{[5, p.47]}. For example, the model "man is a plant". The analysis of the metaphorical use of verbs as a part of speech naming a procedural-dynamic feature of objects allowed us to identify a possible mechanism of this model, which consists in the fact that plants, like people, are living organisms, and they have a full life cycle, which is much shorter than human (in most plants, the growth cycle is completed in one year). In addition, plants can also observe and perceive the world around them, just like humans.

    According to V. G. Gak, a metaphor is "a means of forming a paramorphic model that allows us to present this system with the help of a system belonging to another sphere of experience, where this element is presented more obviously" ^{[4, p.13]}. The idea of plants as an integral part of nature and human society, quite often appears here as a "well-perceived sphere of experience", which led to the emergence of a great variety of metaphors.

    Paying attention to the structure of the metaphor, scientists (N.D. Arutyunova, M. Black, etc.) note that only a few components participate in the semantic mechanism of the metaphor: the main subject is the entity that is designated in this process (primary subject); the auxiliary subject (secondary, subsidiary subject) is the entity that It is correlated with the designation of a ready-made name, as well as the characteristics of each of them ^[2][3]. M. Black argues that "the mechanism of the metaphor is that a system of "associated implications" associated with an auxiliary subject is attached to the main subject" ^{[2, p.167]}. In this article, this approach is used, the idea of plants as an "auxiliary subject" is considered, with the help of which various "main subjects" are described: objects, abstract concepts, phenomena, actions.

According to the naive picture of the world (and not strictly biological), the phases of plant development as a whole can be divided into the following: sowing, regrowth, flowering, maturation, wilting. Verbs denoting these actions, states and perceived signs (if it is a non-isemic verb, for example, trees were green) have a wide metaphorical use when describing a variety of objects: both animate and inanimate; both concrete objects and abstract phenomena. Table 1 presents the verbs of the thematic group "PLANTS" and gives some examples of their metaphorical use.

As shown in the table, among the described objects, the largest group in the metaphorical use of verbs are a person and parts of the human body (both as subjects and as objects). It is worth noting that the subjects described are usually used in the singular, and objects are more often found in the plural form. In addition, words expressing the meaning of the set, or simply collective nouns (country, delegation, children, residents, etc.) can be used. It also corresponds to certain characteristics of plants: it rarely happens when we sow only one seed or cut only one straw. The metaphorical use of these verbs allows you to transform properties that belong to plants, other objects for description, definition or memory. On the one hand, these can be physically perceived signs, such as appearance, external form, see, for example, the metaphorical use of the verb to branch:

Now, when so many years have passed and all the roads and paths are visible as if in the palm of your hand, branching from that foggy distance, forgotten crosshairs, some strange and semi-obscure pattern emerges, which at that time it was impossible to guess [Yuri Trifonov. The house on the embankment (1976) ?NKRYA].

... the happiness of literature, and what a happiness, really, just to walk with it along the branching and shady river, not thinking about anything else [Alexey Makushinsky. The City in the Valley (2012) ?NKRYA].

I draw an animal that looks like a deer, its horns branch to the middle of the leaf, turn into a tree with gnarled branches, leaves and birds on the branches, birds have eyes… [Dina Sabitova. Where there is no winter (2011) ?NKRYA].

On the other hand, the metaphor allows us to characterize and display the concepts of the sphere of the invisible world, which clearly shows the way of perceiving the abstract reality of a person. Let's look at some specific examples:

{sow}

However, Putin also did one terribly harmful thing ? he sowed faith in the state miracle in citizens [Alexander Ryklin. Let the game be worth the candle // "Weekly Magazine", 2003.04.08?NKRYA].

But I, trying to soften my refusal with this pathetic imitation of an internal struggle, only sowed false hopes [Fazil Iskander. The Way from the Varangians to the Greeks (1990) ?NKRYA].

I tried to sow in him the idea that maybe it was his fault, but either the language was not enough, or their relationship had already reached a critical point, he looked at me with hostility, I would say evil [Roman Kamburg. Balinesh // "Volga", 2016 ?NKRYA].

As one of the participants in the discussion said, the new Russian "foreign broadcasting" stuns with the level of technical equipment, financial support and a clear focus on specific groups of the indigenous population of Western countries in order to sow doubts and fears [Viktor Agaev. Fatigue from unity // "Ogonyok", 2015 ?NKRYA].

The mechanism of a metaphor like to sow thought, hope, doubt is that as a full plant grows from a small seed, so the sowing things (although they may not be noticeable at the beginning) will then develop.

{mature}

It was necessary to prepare a feat ? and I almost knew what to do. Of course, I was late for the poklonnoye swamp ? but my own gesture has already matured in my chest. Deeply intimate and personal. Only he [Viktor Pelevin] could help me. Batman Apollo (2013) ?NKRYA].

? How can you not understand that every treasure ? it has to ripen like a potato [Irina Kraeva. Tim and Dan, or the Mystery of the "Broken Knee": fairy tale tale (2007) ?NKRYA].

Even within the centrists, a group of deputies has matured, which behaves defiantly autonomously from the will of the Kremlin [Alexander Sadchikov. The power of elections // Izvestia, 2003.10.03 ?NKRYA].

Why has this decision matured? The subjects of the military-technical cooperation, entering the market with final products, do not work efficiently enough for spare parts [Anatoly Dokuchaev, Mikhail Dmitriev. Russia ? the forge of weapons // "Aerospace defense", 2003.08.15?NKRYA].

Metaphor and something to mature can mean 'to have a certain result, can be used'. Attention should be paid to the fact that the subject can mature on the basis of any premise.

{blossom}

Because scientific competence and scientific discussion are a way to minimize mistakes, but not a guarantee against mistakes, and the distribution of influence in institutionalized science will make itself felt, regardless of whether the archaic Academy of Sciences will remain, whether universities will flourish or something else will appear [Alexander Filippov. The fate of an expert // "Domestic notes", 2003 ? NKRYA].

Alechka really blossomed, became dark pink, like an apricot [Tokareva Victoria. Own truth // "New World", 2002?NKRYA].

After dekulakization, the areas fell very much and the yield became low. And the information was given ? as if our life immediately blossomed without fists. The village Council lies to the district, the district to the region, the region to Moscow. And they report about a happy life, so that Stalin would be happy: his whole power will bathe in collective farm grain [Vasily Grossman. Everything flows (1955-1963) // "October", 1989?NKRYA].

She was so close, she came to me with full determination, in complete innocence of heart and feelings, she brought me her untouched youth... and I did not press her to my chest, I deprived myself of the bliss of seeing her sweet face blossom with joy and the silence of delight... [I. S. Turgenev. Asya (1858) ?NKRYA].

The semantic content of metaphorical combinations of something bloomed can be defined as 'to come to a state of ascent, to achieve a high degree of development', since the flowering of plants is the brightest period. In the same meaning, the verb to reproduce is used.

After a thriving process, the thing tends to decline, decrease in activity. Depending on the degree, style and compatibility, this period can be expressed using the verbs to fade, wither or wither. For example, youth will fade, the girl withered, the school withered, etc.

{fade away}

? All books yes books! So youth will fade away, you won't see anything. Let them read old books. "I'd like to kick you," thought Tyumentsev [I. Grekova. On trials (1967) ? NKRYA].

The drama of an ugly, moreover rapidly aging woman… The eyes are already like a faded pale burdock ... [V. M. Shapko. Gruzok, what is it slide and sticky? // "Volga", 2014 ?NKRYA].

...very polite, elegant, every time near the elevator, letting her feel ? without pressure, with only sad blue eyes and a confused half?smile - how he appreciates her still not faded charm [Marina Vishnevetskaya. Is there coffee after death? (1999) ?NKRYA].

Their beauty has faded ? there are bright characters and the consciousness of a life not lived in vain [Svetlana Silakova. Photography at the height of lyrics // "General Newspaper", 1998 ?NKRYA].

{wither}

He fell silent and began to wither before his eyes [Anatoly Rybakov. Heavy sand (1975-1977) ? NKRYA].

Mother apparently began to wither. Surprisingly simple. She began to wither. The priest took her to the best Kremlin doctors [Maya Kucherskaya. Modern paterik: Reading for those who have fallen into despondency (2004) ?NKRYA].

In fact, until the early 2000s, no one was involved in it organizationally, the once strong Soviet school was languishing, and the decline of mass sports was also affected [Nikita Aronov, Elena Salmina. Follow the blade // "Ogonyok", 2015 ?NKRYA].

Where the author's rights are not respected, the market languishes [Alexander Golyandin. Germany and England on the harm of copyright // "Knowledge is power", 2011 ?NKRYA].

Thus, the analysis allows us to conclude that the mechanism of metaphor formation, on the one hand, may consist in real similarities between the designated and the designating object, with these similarities being both physically perceived and abstract; on the other hand, the process of metaphorization occurring in human consciousness reflects the important its property is anthropometricity, which proves that a person learns about the world through awareness of his activities in it, then the similarities on the basis of which the metaphor is built may not be real, but fictitious.

(The study was carried out with the financial support of the Shenzhen Government and the MSU-PPI University in Shenzhen).