Temperature metaphor in language and discursive pictures of the world: the verb gret

The essay investigates functional variability of the metaphor gret as a typical temperature metaphor. The functional analysis of the metaphor in various discourses specifies both modeling through the metaphor under study and semantic dominants that form the discourse. The hypothesis about discursive variation of the metaphor gret is tested as exemplified in poetic, journalistic, scientific and domestic discourses. The metaphor gret in the average usage of the Russian language models feelings and emotions as well as the social sphere. This metaphor represents predominantly positive (lyubov menya greyet), less often negative (za grekhi greyut) impact on the emotional sphere. The functional activity of the metaphor is much lower when it concerns interpretation of social relations, with only one metaphor registered (gretmesto). The modeling potential of temperature metaphors satisfies the communicative needs of poetic and journalistic discourses to the utmost. The central theme of poetic discourse is the world of human feelings and emotions, which promotes intensive use of the metaphor gret in poetic texts. Compared to the average language usage, poetic discourse demonstrates narrowed conceptual targets interpreted through the metaphor gret that is used to express positive feelings only. The subjects include deep positive feelings and emotions, mental phenomena, the human and the epoch. Journalistic discourse is characterized by its appeal to acute social and political problems. It demonstrates expanded conceptual spheres of application for the metaphor under study. Here the metaphor gret models two spheres: 1) feelings and emotions, and 2) social phenomena. The peculiar character of modeling becomes evident in the choice of the subjects, most of which are the facts of social, political and economic spheres. The metaphor gret in scientific discourse is used only for humanitarian subdiscourse to model the conceptual sphere of feelings and emotions. It indicates a positive impact on the human's emotional state. The subjects include mental phenomena, psychic and social facts. Thus, temperature metaphors (including gret) satisfy the needs of poetic, journalistic, everyday and scientific discourses by realizing their modeling potential. The hypothesis of discursive variations of the metaphor gret proved to be valid.

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