Metaphor Analysis in The Russian Riddle as A Secondary Nomination Source

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Russian Language and its Teaching Methods, Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication, Kazan Federal University

2 Department of General Linguistics and Turkology, Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication, Kazan Federal University

10.22055/rals.2020.16288

Abstract

The development of an anthropocentric paradigm allowed us to expand the subject area of linguistic research, including a folklore text. This article is devoted to analysing the Russian folk riddle from the point of view of metaphor functioning. As you know, the metaphor evolved as a kind of accumulated meaning hierarchy relative to already known objects. Thus, metaphors are understood as complex patterns-images or the ways of the whole and the particular correlation. During the analysis of the metaphor functioning in the riddle, the authors conclude that the metaphor in the riddle is extraordinarily simplified and has several requirements for use. So, the combination of a metaphorical description with a literal description of the subject is essential. The metaphor should be based on the most well-known and understandable representations for this collective. Such a combination of literal and figurative descriptions ensures the complete inclusion of the addressee in the semiotic "message" and allows it to be divided into smaller units.

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