Zoomorphic metaphors in the English proverbs: Lexico-semantic analysis

The metaphoric nature of proverbs is one of their characteristic features making them figurative, emotional and memorable. The article deals with the English proverbs based on zoomorphic metaphors that result from the man’s observation of domestic animals. Using the method of continuous sampling we have selected from the English paremiological fund about a thousand English proverbs containing zoomorphic metaphors. Further quantitative analysis has shown a high percentage of metaphoric images of agricultural animals – a horse, a pig, a sheep, etc. and companion animals – a dog and a cat. Zoomorphic metaphors originate from the features of the animals related to their habits, looks, character and type of activity. Thus, the endurance of the horse, the herd instinct of the sheep, the patience of the donkey, the guard instincts of the dog become the objects of metaphorization. Metaphors also reflect the jobs performed by domestic animals for which they are actually bred. Thus, the practical usage of domestic animals leads to creating metaphoric images of the horse as a means of transport, the donkey as a pack animal, the dog as a hunting companion, and the cat as a mouse catcher. Creation of metaphoric images is affected by stereotyping when a metaphor is based on a most vivid image peculiar for this animal. For example, the donkey is associated with stupidity, the pig’s dominant feature is its uncleanliness, zoomorphism “sheep” creates an image of a humble submissive person – these stereotypes are reproduced in the proverbs. Similar metaphoric images exist in the Russian language, therefore, most English proverbs have their Russian equivalents. Zoomorphic metaphors make proverbs more vivid and expressive, and the images they create are more graphic and memorable.