Metaphorical interpretation of mental phenomena: metaphors with thermal change semantics

The article examines a metaphorical text fragment taken from theRussian linguistic world image, where metaphorical naming units with the semantics of temperature change serve to describe mental phenomena.Research units are represented by metaphorical word-groups consisting of mental phenomena denomination (feelings, emotions, thoughts,ideas, etc.) and verbs with the semantics of temperature change. Methodology of metaphorical naming unit interpretation combines structuralsemantics devices and cognitive linguistics devices that help understanding mechanisms peculiar for those fragments of reality that find representationin the semantic structures of language units. Metaphors with initial semantics of temperature change can be classified on the basis ofsubject component differentiation in actions, processes and states: 1) the human is an actor and affects elements of the mental sphere; 2) elementsof the mental sphere affect the human. Metaphorical naming units generated according to the first metaphorical model reflect the conceptionof the mental sphere under the humans control. In such metaphors thoughts are interpreted as passive objects and humans actions are directedat them. The following situations are typically described this way: generation of emotions and thoughts by humans conscious effort,causation of a specific mental state, intensification or de-intensification of emotions, thoughts, mental phenomena termination due to the humansinfluence on thoughts and feelings. Metaphors denominating human influence on emotional and intellectual phenomena are axiologicallyneutral. In particular, the contexts evaluation component may be present. Metaphors generated according to the second model embody nativespeakers conception about the autonomy and activity of emotions. Such lexemes describe feelings, emotions as subjects capable of manipulatingpeople. The majority of predicates generated within this model denominate negative emotional states and negative changes associated withthem. Positive emotional impact is rendered by two verbs only (согреть, оттаять). Such distribution let us conclude that feelings and thoughtin the Russian linguistic world image are usually conceptualized as negative actors that exert their influence on the human. As a result of theresearch it is stated that the model where mental phenomena are denominated by metaphors with the temperature change semantics is a popularand productive conceptualization method peculiar for the mental sphere. The research describes the system of metaphorical images, reveals theregularity of metaphor generation, and characterizes their axiological nature.

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