PHYTOMIPHIC METAPHORS IN THE ENGLISH PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGE OF GOELOGY

Abstract

The present paper sets out to examine the natural metaphoric model in the modern English terminology of geology. The investigation relies on the cognitive theory of metaphor and applies the method of metaphoric modeling by A. P. Chudinov. The results have revealed that the sphere-source “Plants” is an integral sphere-source for the formation of metaphorical terms in the English terminology of geology. According to the cognitive linguistics, the metaphorical process involves the interaction of two spheres: the cognitive sphere-source and the sphere-target. The relationship between these spheres is schematically represented in the form of a metaphorical model with a special frame-slot structure. Metaphorical terms of the model “GEOLOGICAL OBJECTS AND PROCESSES ‒ THE KINGDOM OF PLANTS” verbalize information about geological objects and processes using the names of the plant world. It is noted that the analyzed metaphorical model is explained in metaphors belonging to 3 frames and 5 slots. Within the frame “Composition of the plant world” (61.6% of the terms of this metaphorical model) geological objects, namely atmospheric processes, geological formations, rock discharge systems, geological instruments and tools, are described through the prizm of terms denoting the genus and species of plants. It should be noted that the basis of the frame “Components (morphology) of the plant” (34.6% of the terms of this metaphorical model) is formed by words included in the slots “Root”, “Leaf” and “Seed”. These words become the basis of metaphorical transference and are explicated in the English terms to denote geological bodies and formations, crystals of minerals and rocks. The metaphors of the frame “Life cycle of plant development” (3.8% of the terms of this metaphorical model) structure the knowledge about geological formations in terms of different cycles of plant development. It is determined that the metaphorical transfer within the model “GEOLOGICAL OBJECTS AND PROCESSES ‒ THE KINGDOM OF PLANTS” is based primarily on the associative features of appearance, shape and color.