Flower Metaphors in the Russian and Italian Languages

Abstract

The article focuses on the study of the mechanism of metaphorization of flower vocabulary in the Russian and Italian languages. The denominations of flowers are motivated by semantic and word-formative processes: the inner form of these phytonyms may be pronounced or unclear. In certain cases the process of semantic derivation does not stop and develops a system of flower metaphors. The article analyzes the correlation between the original meaning of phytonymic denominations and their later one as formed in the metaphoric process: the metaphor may develop meanings already present in the first denomination, or it may rely on other features. The choice of the bases of methaphorization is important to understand the specificity of different metaphoric pictures of the world.

Keywords

• флористическая метафора
• флористическая лексика
• сопоставительный анализ
• механизмы метафоризации
• внутренняя форма слова.