comparison

This article discusses linguistic units which actualize the fi gurative potential of zoonyms (animalisms, animal names) – metaphors, comparisons, phraseological units. The purpose of this research is to establish the lexical and semantic features of the units included in the fi gurative fi eld of zoonyms.

In the article three autonomous classifications of the systems under investigation are offered. The structural one: 1) hierarchical polymodel weakly typified (Russian, Ukrain, Polish, Check); 2) non-hierarchical poly-model weakly typified (Old Greek, Icelandic, Bulgarian); 3) non-hierarchical mono-model highly typified (English, German, Latin). The substratum one: 1) archaic (classical); 2) innovational (modern Slavic, Germanic). The content one: 1) minimal (Germanic, except the celandic); 2) medial (Russian, Latin, Old Greek); 3) maximal (the rest of the Slavic).

The article specifies the semantic amount of the fundamental action verbs in the English, German, French, and Italian languages on the basis of the comparative approach ; the degree of their eurysemy is established.

The article applies to compare the color characteristics that indicate the person’s character, personality, expression of feelings and emotions in languages with different structures. It presents the analysis of the model of linguopsychic human world through the prism of color, characterizes it as a special biosocial phenomenon and identifies both similarities and differences in the distribution of color means of expressing feelings and personal qualities considered in both languages.