VERBALIZATION OF “METALLIZED” COLOUR NAMES IN THE WORLDVIEW OF ENGLISH FAIRY-TALES

Abstract

The article singles out the semantic and linguo-cultural specificities of the use of “metallized” colour names in English fairy-tales. The nomination of the colour “metallized” continuum of the English fairy-tale discourse is carried out through the verbalization of the colour of precious metals (gold, silver), non-ferrous metals (iron) and alloys (bronze). “Metallized” colour names reveal a limited position – 12 units. Lexical units golden, silvery, bronzed are the most general designations of the metallic colours within the ancient English worldview. The color of gold – golden – dominates as hierarchically the most significant one. English fairy-tales represent a wide use of “metallized” colour names within the NATURE, HUMAN BEING and SUPERNATURAL domains. “Metallized” colour names join such thematic groups, as FAUNA, FLORA, NATURAL PHENOMENON (within the NATURE domain), APPEARANCE, ACTIVITY, ARTEFACTS (within the HUMAN BEING domain) and APPEARANCE (within the SUPERNATURAL domain). “Metallized” colour names are indirectly related to colour explication. The lexical units conveying “metallized” colour designations are characterized by part-ofspeech heterogeneity, simple / complex structure of constituents, the presence of an identifier of a qualitative feature and shading semantics, axiological marking, the unproductiveness of the formation of diminutives, the presence / absence of a non-colour component, the presence / absence of signs of radiance and shine.