Representation of the concept “tree” in popular science text (based on metaphorical models)

the article attempts to describe the ways of verbalizing the concept TREE through metaphorical models in popular science text. The study is relevant in the context of popularization of the scientific text, authors use expressive means in order to expand the circle of readers. The problematic of the work is to identify metaphorical models of the concept TREE in the work “Language, Cognition, and Human Nature: Selected Articles” by Steven Pinker (2013). In methodological terms, the study is based on a comprehensive pragmatic-discursive analysis taking into account the pragmatic and discursive aspects of the text. The main attention is paid to the methods of verbalization of the concept TREE, decoding the contextual use of metaphors. As a result of the analysis, metaphorical models of the concept TREE were identified and described: “similarity in form”, “similarity in functions”, “semantic tree”, “syntactic tree”. The outcome of the study indicates that metaphors associated with trees serve as a powerful means of expressing complex emotions, ideas and concepts. The analysis showed that in the work of Steven Pinker, the concept TREE is represented by the lexical units “tree”, “branch”, “twig”, “root”, “trunk”, which are used metaphorically. S. Pinker’s metaphors that create a vivid image for conveying complex ideas, cultivate the correct attitude to nature.

metaphor, concept TREE, metaphorical model, popular science text