2019/1, стр. 20 - 30

BULGARIAN AND RUSSIAN ZOOMORPHIC SIMILES AS A REFLECTION OF WAY OF LIFE AND LIVING CONDITIONS

Резюме: This paper presents the results of a comparative analysis of Bulgarian and Russian zoomorphic similes that reflect the way of life and living conditions of the two peoples. The types of semantic structure equivalence between Bulgarian and Russian zoomorphic similes are identified. We cite synonymous sets of zoomorphic similes with common meanings. The analysis we performed shows quantitative differences between the two languages in the occurrence of zoomorphic similes in this semantic field. This makes it possible to identify significant linguocultural gaps in one of the two languages.

Ключови думи: zoomorphic similes; Bulgarian and Russian linguocultures; way of life; living conditions

Introduction

The animal kingdom, of all the components of the natural environment, is the closest to the anthropocentric measure of this reality – Man. Hence, one supposes that figurative references to the word involving zoonyms would be the most ancient. It seems abundantly clear that “No other realm affords such vivid expression of symbolic concepts; symbolizing through use of animals is preeminent, widespread, and enduring” (Lawrence, 1993: 301). Whether as a result of some inborn tendency or as a result of a lengthy historical process, human beings commonly view animals “as elaborate metaphors and symbols, as spiritual beings, and as themselves” (Shepard, 1996: 281). More specifically, we tend to agree with Shepard that “symbolic images of animals enable humans to objectify qualities and traits” (Shepard, 1978: 247). Of course, at a deeper level still, Lévi-Strauss took such linguistic expressions as part of what enables human beings to deal with one of our fundamental dilemmas: that we are a part of nature, and yet are (or at least think we are) separate from it (Lévi-Strauss, 1968).

In one of its forms, the linguistic view of the world is reflected in similes that reflect the national consciousness and living conditions steeped in the local landscape, history, customs, traditions, culture and activities of those who speak the language. Such similes impart vibrantly vivid images of the prevalent way of life and living conditions.

Our database of zoomorphic similes was collected by repeated sampling of dictionaries of phraseology, conventional similes, folk similes, etc. (Holandi, 2008; Lebedeva, 2015; Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008; Nicheva, Spasova-Mihaylova & Cholakova, 1975; Ogol’tsev, 2001; Yanev, 2013; Bulgarian Phrases and Expressions1); Dictionary of the Bulgarian Language 2.02)).

Zoomorphic similes in the semantic field “way of life and living conditions” in bulgarian and russian linguocultures

We will discuss the variteies of Bulgarian and Russian zoomorphic similes in the semantic field “Way of Life and living conditions” in reverse order of their frequency in Bulgarian.

1. These similes are more frequent in the following semantic groups, each involving at least two synomymous expressions in each language:

– ‘to live alone’ (4 in Bulgarian and 2 in Russian): Bulgarian живея като кукувица ‘жить совсем одиноко, без никого, в одиночестве’ (Nicheva, SpasovaMihaylova & Cholakova, 1975: 489); Bulgarian сам (самичък) като кукувица (Holandi, 2010: 280); Bulgarian живея като сврака на драка (dialect) ‘to live totally alone, lead a solitary life’ (Nicheva, Spasova-Mihaylova & Cholakova, 1975: 509; Holandi, 2008: 111); Bulgarian живея като къртица (Yanev, 2013: 253) ‘to live in solitude’; Russian жить как кукушка (disapproving) ‘1. (dialect) Of a woman living in complete solitude; 2. Of someone’s licentious, irregular lifestyle’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 319); Russian жить как медведь ˂в берлоге˃ (disapproving) ‘of a recluse leading an unsociable, solitary life’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 239).

– ‘to live freely with no constraints/restrictions or worries’ (3 Bulgarian и 5 in Russian): Bulgarian живея като птичка божия ‘to live a carefree life in freedom with no restrictions’ (Nicheva, Spasova-Mihaylova & Cholakova, 1975: 506; Holandi, 2008: 111); Bulgarian живея като волна птичка ‘to live freely, with no worries’ (Holandi, 2008: 108); Bulgarian волен (свободен) като птица (птичка) ‘to live with no constraints (Holandi, 2008: 47); Russian жить как птица ˂Божия (небесная)˃ (informal; disapproving) ‘of someone leading a carefree life’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 241; Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 546); cf. also Russian жить как птица небесная (Божия) (informal) ‘1. (high style) of someone’s free, affluent, above-the-mundane lifestyle; 2. (humorous) of someone’s carefree, happy-go-lucky lifestyle with no chores or commitments’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 546); Russian жить как птица поднебесная (informal) ‘1. of someone’s free, affluent, above-average lifestyle; 2. of someone living in poverty’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 546); Russian свободный (вольный) как птица ‘of someone not bound by responsibilities, ties to others, etc.’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 246); Russian жить ˂одна˃ как голубушка (dialect, humorous) ‘of a free, uninhibited life led by a lone, single woman’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 141); Russian жить как перелётна кукушка (dialect, disapproving) ‘of a drifter leading a carefree life, habitually changing places and jobs’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 319).

– ‘to find oneself in difficult and adverse living circumstances’ (3 in Bulgarian and 5 in Russian): Bulgarian оставам като жаба на вир (dialect) ‘to be in adverse circumstances, in a bad state’(Nicheva, Spasova-Mihaylova & Cholakova, 1975: 484); Bulgarian оставам/остана като гъска (патка) на лед ‘to be in a bad state, to fail to achieve expected goals or success’ (Nicheva, Spasova-Mihaylova & Cholakova, 1975: 34); Bulgarian оставам/остана като риба на лесата (dialect) ‘to be in a ‘bad state, to fail to achieve expected goals or success’ (Nicheva, Spasova-Mihaylova & Cholakova, 1975: 34); Russian быть (оставаться) как рак на мели (non-standard, ironic) ‘of someone in a desperate ‘situation’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 237); Russian угодить (попасть˂ся˃) как кур во щи (в ощип) (old-fashioned, non-standard) ‘of someone in a bad state with no way out’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 248), cf. also Russian попасть (попасться, угодить) [куда] как кур во щи (в ощип) (non-standard, ironic) ‘said of a man who has unexpected problems, suddenly finding himself (through his own fault) in a difficult, impossible, unpleasant (often humorous or embarrassing) situation’’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 324); Russian попасться как птица в кляпцы (colloquial) ‘of someone in a bad state with no way out’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 546); Russian попасться как ворона в суп (informal, dialect, humorous) ‘of someone in an unexpected (self-inflicted) and often ludicrously embarrassing situation with no way out’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 118); Russian по-пасться как косач в кош (dialect, humorous) ‘of someone in a bad state with no way out’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 296).

– ‘to live in bad conditions’ (3 in Bulgarian and 4 in Russian): Bulgarian живея като животно (скот) ‘to live a primitive life, in hard conditions’ (Holandi, 2008: 108); Bulgarian живея като куче ‘1. To live in poverty; 2. To live alone; 3. To be homeless’ (Nicheva, Spasova-Mihaylova & Cholakova, 1975: 489); Bulgarian живея като куче под стряха ‘to be homeless, to have no family’1); Russian жить как скот/скоты/скотина (non-standard, derogatory) ‘of people living in extreme poverty, ignorance, deprivation’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 241); Russian жить как собака (non-standard, disapproving) ‘of someone living a comfortless, unsettled, bleak life’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 241), cf. also Russian жить как собака (disapproving) ‘of someone living a crude, uncivilized and embittered life’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 630); Russian жить как чёрна собака (dialect, disapproving) ‘of someone living in extreme poverty and complete solitude’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 630); Russian жить (скитаться, бродяжничать и т.п.) как бездомная собака/ бездомный пёс ‘usually said of someone who is alone and has no home or shelter’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 247).

2. Similes that have only one example instance each in Bulgarian but multiple synonyms in Russian:

– ‘to lead a secluded or solitary life’ (1 in Bulgarian and 9 in Russian): Bulgarian крия се като лалугер ‘to dislike seeing or talking to other people, prefer staying home’1); Russian жить как зверь = Russian жить зверем (informal, dialect, disapproving) ‘of someone unsociable leading a secluded life’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 217); Russian жить (сидеть) ˂одному/одной˃ как бирюк (disapproving) = Russian жить (сидеть) бирюком (disapproving) ‘of someone unsociable or devoid of company’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 243); Russian жить (сидеть) ˂одному/одной˃ как сыч/сычиха (disapproving) ‘of someone unsociable or devoid of company’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 243); Russian жить (сидеть) ˂одному/одной˃ как филин (disapproving) ‘of someone unsociable or devoid of company’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 244); Russian сидеть как заяц на острове (острову) (dialect, disapproving) ‘of someone stranded or isolated from the rest of the world’ (˂ Based on the proverbial flood-stranded hare sitting on an island early in the spring) (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 214); Russian спрятаться (уйти в себя и т.п.) как улитка ˂в раковину˃ (disapproving) ‘of someone overly cautious or timid living in seclusion’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 248); Russian прятаться [от кого] как собака в подмостье в жаркий день (colloquial, humorous) ‘of someone avoiding friends and acquaintances’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 632); Russian сидеть в гнезде как кукушка (dialect, humorous, ironic) ‘of someone rarely seen outside their home’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 319); Russian сидеть (отсиживаться) [где, в чём-либо] как суслик в норе/норке ‘1. of someone forced to keep a low profile or hide out; 2. (figurative, disapproving) of someone living in seclusion’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 247).

– ‘to live in harmony’ (1 in Bulgarian and 4 in Russian): Bulgarian като змийските яйца ‘задружные, сплотени, единные’ (Nicheva, Spasova-Mihaylova & Cholakova, 1975: 486); Russian жить как сокол с соколихой (dialect, approving) ‘of a close-knit marriage’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 639); Russian жить как голубь с голубкой (informal, dialect, humorous) ‘of an inseparable (usu. married) couple living in faithful love and complete harmony’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 142); Russian жить как два голубка (как голубки) ‘of an inseparable (usu. married) couple living in faithful love and complete harmony’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 141); Russian сохраняться как гуси в шайке (dialect, approving) ‘of people living in harmony’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 158).

– ‘to live a life of constant strife’ (1 in Bulgarian and 2 in Russian): Bulgarian живеем като куче˂то˃ и котка˂та˃ (котката с кучето) ‘to have angry arguments all the time’ (Holandi, 2008: 106); Russian жить как кошка с собакой (informal, dialect, disapproving or humorous) ‘of never-ending and uncompromising antagonism, quarrels and mutual hatred between those in close touch (spouses, relatives, competitors, etc.)’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 303), cf. also Russian жить как собака с кошкой (disapproving or humorous) ‘of neverending and uncompromising antagonism, quarrels and mutual hatred between those who interact regularly (spouses, relatives, competitors, etc.)’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 630); Russian жить как журавль с цаплей (colloquial, dialect, humorous or ironic) ‘1. Of spouses who have heated disputes, arguments and quarrels all the time 2. Of two people who are different to the point of incompatibility’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 203).

– ‘to lead a parasitic lifestyle’ (1 in Bulgarian and 2 in Russian): Bulgarian живея като кърлеж ‘to have no work and live at someone else’s expense’ (Holandi, 2008: 109); Russian разжиться как вошь в коросте (colloquial, ironic) ‘of someone getting very rich or wealthy at someone else’s expense through a parasitic lifestyle’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 121); Russian впиваться [в кого-либо] (сосать, пить кровь и т.п.) как клоп (клещ) (figurative, derogatory) ‘of someone enjoying a parasitic lifestyle at someone else’s expense’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 237).

– ‘to live prosperously’(1 in Bulgarian and 2 in Russian): Bulgarian живея като кърлеж в ухото ‘to live a comfortable life with enough money’(Nicheva, SpasovaMihaylova & Cholakova, 1975: 491; Holandi, 2008: 110), cf. also Bulgarian живея като кърлеж в куче ухо ‘to live in prosperity’ (Nicheva, Spasova-Mihaylova & Cholakova, 1975: 491); Russian зажировать как индейский петух (colloquial, humorous) ‘of someone getting to enjoy a well-fed and prosperous life’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 497); Russian жить (3rd person singular живѐть) как свинка-господинка (dialect, humorous) ‘of a woman enjoying a happy and prosperous married life’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 599).

3. Similes with the sense of ‘to live a life of anxiety’ involve two synomous expressions in Bulgarian but only one in Russian:

– ‘to live a life of anxiety’: Bulgarian живея като бълха в тъпан ‘to live in anxiety’ (Holandi, 2008: 108); Bulgarian живея като подгонен звяр ‘to live in a constant state of anxiety and tension’ (Holandi, 2008: 108); Russian жить как заяц на слуху (colloquial, disapproving) ‘of someone living in anxiety over an anticipated danger’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 214).

4. There are also cases where a given zoomorphic simile is represented by one expression in each language:

– ‘to achieve a prosperous life’: Bulgarian наредих се като куче в каруца (кола) ‘to achieve a very favorable position’ (Nicheva, Spasova-Mihaylova & Cholakova, 1975: 490), cf. also Bulgarian наредих се като куче в каруца (каручка) (colloquial) ‘to arrange good, advantageous conditions for oneself, to set oneself up’2); Russian забиться [куда] как вша в коросту (dialect, humorous or ironic) ‘of someone enjoying a lucrative position or sinecure’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 121).

– ‘to avoid facing problems by living in self-deception’: Bulgarian крия си главата като щраус (literary) ‘to escape, avoid facing problems’ (Holandi, 2008: 150); Russian прятать голову в песок как страус (figurative, disapproving) ‘of someone given to self-deception in an attempt to avoid facing problems or danger’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 246).

5. The following similes seem to only exist in Russian:

– ‘to live in a squalid home’ (3 in Russian): Russian жить как свинья (nonstandard, derogatory) ‘of a slovenly, unclean person, living in squalid conditions inappropriate for human use’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 241); Russian жить (3rd person plural живуть) ̀ как свиньи в сажу (dialect, derogatory) ‘of slovenly, unclean dwellers of a squalid home’ (˂ саж – cowshed, pigsty) (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 600); Cf. Russian жить как в свинарнике (в хлеву) (non-standard) ‘of someone occupying a squalid, untidy dwelling, office, etc.’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 239) – this simile originates from the zoomorphic image of pigs in a pigsty.

– ‘to lead a carefree, promiscuous lifestyle’ (2 in Russian): Russian порхать как мотылёк (disapproving) = порхать мотыльком ‘of a happy-go-lucky man, womanizer, etc.’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 162); Russian жить как зезюля (dialect, derogatory) ‘of a woman leading a carefree and promiscuous lifestyle’ (˂зезюля – cuckoo) (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 218).

– ‘to live a life of worries and troubles’ (2 in Russian): Russian бегать ˂высунув язык˃ как собака (figurative, disapproving) ‘of someone constantly worried, troubled and busily trying to get everything done’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 236); Russian метаться как кукушка в гнезде (dialect, disapproving) ‘of someone living a life of worries and troubles’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 319).

– ‘to live in overcrowded conditions’ (2 in Russian): Russian жить как налим ˂бок с боком˃ (dialect, disapproving) ‘of people living crammed in close quarters’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 425); cf. additional connotation: Russian набиться (набиты) как сельди в бочке (в бочку) (disapproving) ‘of extremely overcrowded conditions with people jostling in a confined space’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 606).

6. Once again, there is only one example and only in Russian of a zoomorphic simile with each of the following meanings:

– ‘to live in complete subjugation’: Russian жить как собака на привязи (disapproving) ‘of someone living in complete subjugation, restricted in their freedom’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 630).

– ‘to live with no choices or rights, in dependence on someone else’: Russian жить как приблудная собака (deprecating) ‘of someone living temporarily, without any choice, without any right, with someone else’(Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 630).

– ‘to live by tricks and dishonesty’: Russian жить лисой = жить как лиса ‘of someone living by tricks and dishonesty’ (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 348).

– ‘to get settled in a new place’: Russian привыкать к новому дому (месту) как кошка (Ogol’tsev, 2001).

– ‘to escape social problems’: Russian сидеть в щели (забиваться в щель/ щели) как таракан (figurative, derogatory) ‘of someone avoiding social problems in a cowardly fashion’ (Lebedeva, 2015: 247).

As the material we cited shows, the semantic “Way of Life and Living Conditions” is represented by different quantities of zoomorphic similes in Bulgarian and Russian. This allows us to assume the existence of significant culturological gaps in one of these languages. Such exist in Bulgarian (as compared to Russian) in the case of similes with the meanings ‘to live in a squalid home’, ‘to lead a carefree, promiscuous lifestyle’, ‘to live a life of worries and troubles’,‘to live in overcrowded conditions’, as well as ‘to live in complete subjugation’, ‘to live with no choices or rights, in dependence on someone else’, ‘to live by tricks and dishonesty’, ‘to get settled in a new place’, ‘to escape social problems’.

The large quantity of the zoomorphic similes in Russian, in the case of the the semantic field “Way of Life and Living Conditions”, reveals the significance of this fragment of the linguistic picture of the world for speakers of the Russian linguoculture. Thus, in the Russian linguoculture the sets of synonymous similes with the common meaning of ‘to lead a secluded or solitary life’are quite significant.

The types of semantic equivalences between bulgarian and russian zoomorphic similes reflecting the way of life and living conditions

In terms of semantic structure equivalence, the Bulgarian and Russian zoomorphic similes analyzed here can be classified into the following types:

1. Completely equivalent zoomorphic similes found in both Bulgarian and Russian. These employ identical tenors as well as identical animal vehicles. Thus one’s free life with no restraints tends to be associated with a flying bird in both Bulgarian and Russian (Bulgarian живея като птичка божия – Russian жить как птица ˂Божия (небесная)˃; Bulgarian свободен (волен) като птица (птичка) – Russian свободный (вольный) как птица), whereas never-ending antagonism is associated with cats and dogs sharing a living space (Bulgarian живеем като куче и котка – Russian жить как кошка с собакой). These vivid zoomorphic similes are found in many Slavic and non-Slavic languages. Cf. Serbian and Croatian живјети (слагати се) као пас и мачка (као мачка и пас) (Mokienko & Nikitina, 2008: 303-304), cf. also French vivre (être, s’accorder, s’entendre) comme un chien et un chat; English ˂as˃ free as a bird, etc.

A destitute and solitary existence is compared with a dog’s life in both Bulgarian and Russian linguocultures: Bulgarian живея като куче – Russian жить как собака, cf. English live like a dog. The human tendency towards self-deception in an attempt to avoid problems is represented by the zoonym ostrich: Bulgarian крия си главата като щраус – Russian прятать голову в песок как страус. This stems from the popular misconception that ostriches will bury their heads in the sand to escape predators. The myth appears to have originated with ostriches often bending down their heads to swallow small pebbles to help digestion. They may also flop to the ground after being chased for so long that they are too exhausted to run away or even keep up their heads.

2. Zoomorphic similes that are semantically analogous in Bulgarian and Russian in that they have the same tenor but different zoomorphic vehicles: Bulgarian живея като подгонен звяр – Russian жить как заяц на слуху, etc. The similes of this type use different coding to express the same concept.

3. Zoomorphic similes that are semantically analogous in Bulgarian and Russian even though they employ different tenors as well as and divergent animal vehicles: Bulgarian живея като кърлеж в ухото, Bulgarian живея като кърлеж в куче ухо – Russian зажировать как индейский петух; Bulgarian наредих се като куче в каруца (каручка) – Russian забиться [куда] как вша в коросту.

4. Non-equivalent and non-matching zoomorphic similes in Bulgarian and Russian. These zoomorphic similes are found only in one of the two languages: Russian сидеть в щели (забиваться в щель/щели) как таракан; Russian метаться как кукушка в гнезде; Russian жить как налим ˂бок с боком˃; Russian порхать как мотылёк; Russian жить как зезюля; Russian жить как приблудная собака; Russian жить как собака на привязи, etc. For some of these similes it may be possible to find a semantic match in the other language, albeit involving a non-animal image.

The tenors and vehicles bases in Bulgarian and Russian may or may not be equivalent, depending on the popular perception of each animal in the linguistic consciousness and everyday cultural experience of the given ethnic group.

The zoomorphic similes specific to a given linguoculture formed as the result of centuries-long use and transmit cultural principles and values.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis we performed, the zoomorphic similes reflecting way of life and living conditions registered in Russian lexicographic sources appear to be more detailed than in Bulgarian ones. This suggests the need for a new, comprehensive, Bulgarian dictionary of idioms and/or just of conventional similes, comparable to the Bol’shoi slovar’ russkikh narodnykh sravnenii, which comprises more than 45,000 examples of similes (Mokienko & Nikitina 2008), which would include among other things recent coinages. Such a dictionary would be useful not only for linguists, students of philology, foreign learners of Bulgarian, and high school teachers and students, but in fact also for the general public.

Quite a few of the zoomorphic similes discussed here are set expressions repeatedly used by certain individuals in a variety of discourse situations (Bulgarian живея като куче; Bulgarian живея като кукувица; Bulgarian сам като кукувица; Russian жить как кукушка; Russian порхать как мотылёк, etc.). Other zoomorphic similes seem to be so removed from modern psycholinguistic reality that they are rarely used by the native speakers (Bulgarian като змийските яйца; Bulgarian живея като сврака на драка; Bulgarian оставам (остана) като риба на лесата; Bulgarian оставам като гъска (патка) на лед, etc.). According to F.N. Guketlova and N.G. Sherieva, “Zoonyms (with the exception of those involving cats and dogs) have become peripheral in everyday usage, thus confirming just how removed modern man is from the animal world” (Guketlova & Sherieva, 2018: 83).

Our linguistic analysis supports the view of Deignan, that “many, more transparent, metaphorical expressions are also historical in that they allude to knowledge that is still shared as part of our cultural repository, but no longer directly experienced” (Deignan, 2003: 270). As noted by Kövecses, Deignan articulates the key insight that “the metaphors we use today may not reflect current understandings about our culture” (Kövecses, 2003: 315).

Our database of zoomorphic similes is full of such usage notes as ‘disapproving’, ‘derogatory’, ‘humorous’, ‘humorous or ironic’, which all seem to confirm that “the prevalence of pejorative connotations in the field of zoomorphic code of the Bulgarian and Russian linguocultures suggests a general trend toward pejorative connotations” (Stoyanova, 2017: 384).

Interestingly, among the similes we have studied there are some that are polysemous (with two or more quite distinct meanings) e.g. Russian жить как птица небесная (Божия) (ligh style) ‘to live an affluent livestyle’ vs. (humorous) ‘to live a carefree, happy-go-lucky life’.

The comparative aspect of the research in zoomorphic similes provides a deeper understanding for comparing the value systems of the Bulgarian and Russian linguocultures (Stoyanova, 2018: 384), and helps to decode the national specifics inherent in the linguistic semantics of the two cultures.

The zoomorphic similes analyzed here form an important part of the linguistic view of the world in the Bulgarian and Russian linguocultures, proving that the zoomorphic code has its place in the culture of each nation.

NOTES

1. Balgarski frazi i izrazi. Spravochnik na izpolzvani frazi i frazeologizmi [Bulgarian Phrases and Expressions. Directory of Phrases and Phrasal Expressions Used]. Retrieved 12 April, 2018 from: https://frazite.com

2. Rechnik na balgarskia ezik 2.0. [Dictionary of the Bulgarian Language 2.0]. Retrieved 28 April, 2018 from: https://rbe.chitanka.info

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