Objectivization of folk notions of cat in Russian and German phytonymical lexicon

A number of plant names derive from animal names and demonstrate thereby the crossing of zoonimycal and phytonymical codes of language. The article deals with a comparative analysis of phytonymical lexicon in Russian and in German, in particular, of Russian and German plant names derived from the noun koshka / Katze 'cat'. The analysis is based on the comparison of nomination features and motivations of the mentioned plant names, which determine the interconnection of animal "cat" and particular plants. There are 52 plant names with the element koshka 'cat' in Russian. German phytonyms derived from the noun Katze 'cat' count 172 names. Among the nomination features, which were identified during the study, the first one to note is "habitus of plant / plant part". The way to nominate such phytonyms is a metaphorical transfer, caused by the habitus similarity of a cat or parts of its body and a plant or its parts, e.g. Swiss Baueli, Bauelgras 'pussy cat, pussy cat grass' (Eriophorum L.), Tomsk koshachiy khvost 'cat's tail' (Ama-ranthus caudatus L.), and many other. Also some plant names can be identified as a poetic metaphor, e.g. Meckl. Kattenspar 'cat's spear' (Ononis L.). The next nomination feature is "stimulant property of plant / attraction of cats by plant". There are three species named according to this motivation in German and six species with such names in Russian, e.g. Ger. Katzenblume 'cat's flower', Moscow koshkina, koshach'ya trava 'cat's herb' (Valeriana officinalis L.), etc. Some phytonyms are motivated by ethno-cultural notions of cat. Russian and German traditional cultures show an ambiguous attitude toward the animal, nevertheless the studied plant names explicate only negative notions. The idea of a cat as a mischievous and dangerous creature as well as a contemptuous attitude to the animal were discovered in the names of wild, useless, poisonous and dangerous plants, often weeds, e.g. Ger. Katzengras 'cat grass' (Dactylis glomerata L.), Perm. kotovik 'cat plant' (Geum rivale L.), Russ. koshach'yapetrushka 'cat parsley' (Cicuta virosa L.), etc. There were also discovered three phytonyms in German with the nomination feature "plant as a part of game": Ger. Katzestuhl-che, Katzestuhl, Low Alem. Katze(n)stege(n) (Plantago L.). Children cane flexible plantain stems into little chairs and ladders for a cat. A number of plant names derived from the noun cat should be recognized as corrupt or reanalyzed forms. There are nine such phytonyms in Russian and four phytonyms in German. The reasons for motivational uncertainty of these names could vary from changes like folk etymology up to mistakes made by authors of botanical dictionaries.

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