Lanina H. Phraseological units containing zoosemic components in Russian and German (semantic and ethnocultural aspects).

The research analyses - comparatively in Russian and German - phraseological units (PhU) containing zoosemic components within their structure. Common and differential traits characteristic of the respective PhU semantics are revealed. Certain ethnic and cultural specificities are determined in the PhU functioning in both languages. The author offers a thematic classification of phraseological units having zoosemic components. The PhU under study, according to their general meaning, are grouped into four semantic classes: 1) animal name - human being; 2) animal name - abstract phenomenon; 3) animal name - situation; 4) animal name - object. The research revealed Inter-linguistic parallels as to the form and semantic content of the zoosemic phraseological units in Russian and German which is the base for differentiating among the following groups of PhU-equivalents: 1) partial phraseological equivalents; 2) specific phraseological equivalents which have no animal name component in one of the languages; 3) complete equivalents and 4) phraseological units with zoosemic components as Russian-German false equivalents. In the languages analyzed the zoosemic component is found to have a particular role in the formation of the PhU general meaning. The reasons for either similarity or specificity of the PhU semantics are explained through the ethnic and cultural aspects of the PhU origins and functioning in the respective languages.