DOMESTIC ANIMALS IN GERMAN PROVERBS

Abstract

A paradigm of names of German domestic animals and their functions are studied in the article. The emphasis is put on the environmental values of the Ukrainian and German people. It is noted that the divergence of values is predetermined mentally and culturally. The peculiarity of “domestic animal” concept, its etymology and national specificity are found out. The logical and objective connection between wildlife and domestic animals within the formula “native – foreign” is described. A list of the most ancient Proto-Indo-European domestic animals is made up in the article, deep semantics of zoonyms is also studied and their pragmatic potential is revealed. The formation of zoonyms in German-speaking culture dates back to Old High German period and covers animals, birds and insects. Single and multiple names of the domestic animals are identified, as well as their connections. These connections display an interdependence of the domestic animal on its owner, on human subjective evaluation within the aesthetic scale “good – bad” as well as human negative attitude to “an ideal friend”. The hidden mechanism of creation of domestic animals’ “ideality” and their external measurements are established, models of numerical differentiation of elements are proposed, the periods of biological development of domestic animals, gender, genetics, habitat, behavior are distinguished. The complex and open nature of the functions of domestic animals, which correlates with age, appearance, biological species, quantitative characteristics, is traced. The systematic usage of zoonyms in German proverbs and their modality are proved. Metaphoric and dialectic nature, expressiveness, figurativeness are characteristic features of the analyzed phenomenon.