Semantic analysis of the proverbs and sayings with the lexical component “heart” in the English language

Abstract

The subject of this research is the semantic peculiarities of proverbs and sayings with the lexical component “heart” in the English linguistic consciousness. The goal consists in analyzing these phraseological units, extent the representations on the lexeme “heart”, and examines its redefined meaning. Special attention is paid to study of the concept of phraseology as science, phenomenon of phraseological units, as well as determination of common and differential attributes of proverbs and sayings, which reflect vision of the world and national culture of native speakers. Using the method of continuous sampling, the author determined 28 phraseological units with the component “heart”. The conducted semantic analysis allowed classifying proverbs and saying with the component “heart” in the English language, identify linguoculturological aspects of the concept “HEART”, provide a holistic description to the semantic structure of the aforementioned phraseological units. The analyzed phraseologisms were grouped depending on the meaning of the component, which is used by native speakers for expressing the attitude to garrulity, cowardice, self-doubt, description of various feelings and emotions. In phraseological units of English language, the lexical component “heart” is associated primarily with an individual and his inner world: personality traits; other people’s perception of him; his relationship with other people; communication manner; self-identification in the surrounding reality; type of activity.