Antonyuk M. Structural, Semantic and Functional Features of the Metaphor in Old English

The thesis presents linguistic and cognitive analyses of the nominative, cognitive and expressive metaphors in Old English. Old English nominative metaphor has proved to be the effective means of verbalization of new notions that emerged in the Anglo-Saxon society. The peculiarities of its use for the purpose of creating the simplest terminology have been determined. Old English cognitive metaphor proved to be a source of various notions' conceptualization. We have differentiated basic structural, orientational and ontological metaphors in Old English and examined metaphorical potential of certain groups of verbs, nouns and adjectives, as well as linguocognitive and linguocultural prerequisites that enabled the conceptualization of corresponding notions. The role of Old English expressive metaphor as the means of certain notions and replenishment of the poetical vocabulary with the help of epic variation technique has been defined. Its typology on semantic and syntactical grounds have been determined and the system of Old English expressive metaphor has been presented.