РУАЭСТ (RUAEST)
Metaphoric Models of the Concept FIRE in Sakha and English Languages
The article deals with the study of concept FIRE in Sakha and English languages. Basing on the theory of conceptual metaphor the authors singled out metaphoric models of representation of concept FIRE in both cultures. The two languages have common universal and differential speciёc ways of conceptualizing the concept under study. They depend on the structure of both languages and also on cultural and historic background. The Sakha language displays pagan conception of ёre as a living being expressed in the models FIRE IS A HUMAN BEING, FIRE IS AN OLD MAN. The metaphoric models found in the English language are connected with materialistic conception of ёre in the models FIRE IS A MATERIAL OBJECT. The examples of personiёcation in English convey humanlike characteristics of ёre which is able to consume, dance, sweep, kill, die, etc. The Christian religion of the English reveals itself in the metaphoric model FIRE IS HELL which is a well-known allusion to the Bible. The identiёed models might be valuable for cross-cultural studies and cognitive linguistics.