Contrastive Analysis of English, Russian, and Hebrew Gold and Silver Idioms

Abstract

The article explores about 320 English, Russian, and Hebrew silver idioms, and also compares trilingual gold and silver idioms (GOIS and SIS, respectively), which has not been the subject of research until now. In quantitative terms, there is an advantage for golden idioms over silver idioms, the ratio of these metaphors in three languages is similar to the ratio of black and gray idioms. The prevalence of unique silver idioms in English and their absence in Hebrew is noted. The article discusses the lack of opposition to other colors and the parallel of GOIS & SIS (GOSIS) in the designation of material and spiritual wealth, the highest achievements, with SIS symbolizing usually less wealth and always the second most important achievement. A parallel is noted between silver metaphors and gray metaphors only in the meaning of senior and the productivity of GSIS in many areas of science and society in addition to trilingual metaphors that have existed for several centuries. There is a special activity at the present time with silver metaphors in the meaning of senior. Associative chains of GSI are organized into the following microsystems: 1. A. Nature. Flora. Fauna. Weather. Body. B. Human activity. Cooking. Anxiety. The medicine. Drugs. Money, coins. Economical - Profitable - Debit Card - Labor-Professionals. Society. A multiple of 25-50. Computers, technology. Sports, competitions. Art. Photography - Cinema. C. Mental, moral, ethical problems. Wealth, wealth - happy, rich - precious, excellent, value. Harmonious, moderate. An unattainable dream. Eloquent. Deceptive, shiny. Betrayal. Polysemy characterizes GOSIS to a lesser extent than basic color metaphors, but that is why several GOSIS can be associated with different microsystems at the same time.