Metaphors for Language and Speech in Russian and Chinese: A Comparative Study

The study focuses on the ways of modeling the figurative component of the concept of “language” in Russian and Chinese. The concept is represented in lexical metaphorical nominations of speech, talking and the talking person. Basic metaphorical models are defined, as well as the degree of their commonness between the two languages. The ways of specific figurative modeling of formal and content aspects of speech are outlined.