The Concept of 'Fire' in Georgian Phraseology

Abstract

Nowadays, the study of language and culture through concepts is relevant. The article discusses fire as a concept in Georgian phraseology. Fire is a socio-cultural phenomenon: Fire is a sociocultural phenomenon: on the hearth, where the fire was lit, society developed and Light has become a magical apotropaic tool. The evaluative concept fire metaphorically expresses a mixture of positive and negative values, asymmetry, that is why the issue arouses interest. The evaluative concept of fire metaphorically expresses a mixture of positive and negative values, asymmetrythat is why the issue arouses interest. In different languages, researchers study the associative-psychological load of this lexeme (Belarusian, Czech, German, English, French, Italian) to reveal the difference in metaphorical thinking. Along with universal phraseology, there are also national-specific phraseology. Next to the universal phraseology, we have national-specific ones as well. The purpose of the article is to determine the connection between the primary and metaphorical meanings of fire;Revealing the linguistic, cultural and cognitive elements of the phraseology containing it. E.g.:  In Georgian, fire is considered an ethno-specific metaphor. The research revealed its great semantic load as a phraseological concept. Ethnocultural values are accumulated in it: this social phenomenon is a metaphor of light, inner transformation. Deep emotions are conveyed through fire. The pain of the soul is experienced physically: eg. tsetskhlis tsakideba/shentoba, or tsetskhls shua dgoma, tsetskhls kris//akvesebs/afrgvevs which proves the close cognitive relationship between primary and secondary meanings of fire. The primary negative meaning dominates the metaphorical one as well. In Georgian, fire is a metaphor for love, it expresses positive connotations: activity, closeness, kinship, dedication, and to a large extent conveys negative semantics: most often anger, psychophysical impact, sadness, trouble, suffering, as well as preciousness, urgency, impatience, fight, quarrel, Fear, incitement, embarrassment, regret, not considering the risk, betrayal, selfishness, being in a hopeless situation, even aggravating this situation.