Cognitive Comparison Models Forming Semantics of the English Phraseological Units With a Zoonym Component

Abstract

The article deals with comparison as a cognitive mechanism that determines the formation of the semantics of the phraseological units (hereinafter - PU) of the English language that convey knowledge about human being. The authors study the PU that include zoonyms and structurally represent comparative constructions of two types: comparative constructions as ... as and comparisons with the word like . The method of cognitive modeling enabled to reveal the cognitive comparison models used in creating the considered PU. The study allowed us to identify the following cognitive models of comparison: 1) HUMAN BEING AS PHYSICAL QUALITY/PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE AS ANIMAL (either physical/physiological characteristics are compared, or the characteristic is transferred from the physical/physiological to the psychological domain); 2) HUMAN BEING AS PSYCHOLOGICAL QUALITY AS ANIMAL (helps to comprehend information about psychological qualities and human behavior through the prism of ideas about animals); 3) HUMAN BEING LIKE ANIMAL (used when comparing human and animal features); 4) HUMAN BEING ACT LIKE ANIMAL (used when comparing the actions of people and animals). In conclusion the authors state the role of cognitive comparison models in forming the semantics of the PU in the English language, which is definitely important: they help to organize knowledge from different domains for their subsequent comparison.