Anthropomorphic Metaphor in the English Veterinary Terminology

Abstract

Introduction. The article is devoted to the presentation of the results of the study of metaphorization and the study of metaphorical terms, widely represented in the English terminology of veterinary medicine. The purpose of the article is to represent the features of the anthropomorphic metaphorical name in the English terminology of veterinary medicine. Materials and methods of research. The study of metaphorization as a way of forming English veterinary terms was conducted by us on the basis of lexicographic data recorded in English terminological dictionaries of veterinary medicine. Results of the research. The analysis of lexicographic material allowed to identify four donor domains that served as a source of metaphorical names in the terminology of veterinary medicine: HUMAN, LIVING ORGANISM, NATURAL FACT, ARTIFACT. Conceptual analysis of metaphorical terms of veterinary medicine revealed that one of the most productive metaphors used in the creation of terminological units is anthropomorphic. In anthropomorphic metaphorization, the names are transferred from the donor domain HUMAN to the recipient domain VETERINARY. The article attempts to consider the cognitive basis of anthropomorphic metaphor as one of the mechanisms of creation of veterinary terms in English. Based on the theory of conceptual metaphor, it was found that the sources of anthropomorphic metaphor are the biological characteristics of people, the names of body parts and properties of a living organism. Semantic groups of metaphorical terms formed on the basis of cognitive transfer of tokens related to the structure of the human body, its behavior, inherent qualities, life and way of life in the field of veterinary medicine based on external or functional similarity between donor and recipient domains are considered. Сonclusions. Thus, the study allows us to conclude that the terms-metaphors occupy a certain niche in the terminology of veterinary medicine in English and ensure their effective functioning in the language of veterinarians. Conceptual analysis of metaphorical terms of veterinary medicine revealed that one of the most productive is anthropomorphic metaphor. As a result of anthropomorphic metaphorization, new terms of veterinary medicine are formed on the basis of cognitive transfer of tokens that relate to the social characteristics of a person that determine his appearance, behavior or condition, in the field of veterinary medicine on the basis of external or functional similarity between donor and recipient domains.