Cognitive interpretation of phraseological units

2.2. Comparative analysis of Phez with their equivalents in Russian
The object of the study was phraseological units with a zoomorphism component, selected from the English-Russian Phraseological Dictionary of A.V. Kunin [1967]. Among them there are the most frequent zoonyms cat (123), dog (289), horse (80), bear (60), bird (45), goose (50).
When considering the features of the translation of phraseological units, the point of view of A.V. Kunin was taken as the basis , which was later supported by V.N. Komisorov , namely, the following ways of translating phraseological units are distinguished;
- full equivalent;
- partial equivalent;
- partial lexical equivalent;
- partial grammatical equivalent;
- overtone translation;
- descriptive translation;
- literal translation (tracing paper).
Full equivalent
1) “Let's get to this damned shelter, I'm scared stiff.” I don't believe a word of it. You were always as brave as a lion. ( WSMaugham , “The Hour Before The Dawn”).
"Let's go to that accursed asylum." I'm scared to death.
I don't believe a single word you say. You have always been brave as a lion.
In this case, we are faced with a full equivalent, or rather a monoequivalent of an English phraseological unit, since the coincidence with it in terms of meaning, lexical composition, imagery, stylistic orientation and grammatical structure is obvious.
2) “She looks as quiet as a mouse. There's something rather striking about her.” ( G.Eliot “Adam Bede” ch. V)
- She quiet as mouse . But still there is something attractive in her appearance.
An example of the translation of this phraseological unit also illustrates the presence of a full equivalent with completeness in the transfer of meaning, lexical composition, grammatical structure, figurativeness.
3) “ Feelim is a man of forty-five years, wiry, slender, and as cunning as a fox ” ( S. O'Casey, Oak Leaves and Lavender, act I)/
- Philim is a man of forty-five years old, slender, wiry, and cunning like a fox.
In this example, we also encounter a full equivalent, there is a coincidence in meaning, lexical composition, stylistic orientation and grammatical structure.
4) “ I wouldn't rest my main dependence on the Hielandmen – hawks will not pick out hawks' eyes . They may quarrel among themselves but they are sure to join against a civilized talk.” (W. Scott , RobRoy , ch . XXX).
- In your place, I would not rely on the highlanders in my calculations: a raven will not peck out the eye of a crow . They may quarrel among themselves, but sooner or later they will certainly unite against all civilized people.
Translators had no difficulty in translating these phraseological units, the full equivalents of which in Russian correspond in meaning to English phraseological units, and which are also based on the same images.