Metaphorical Terminology in the English Sublanguage of Dentistry

Abstract

Cognitive metaphors are universal mechanisms of transferring names of a particular concept to another object based on their similarities. Dental terminology is characterized by extensive use of metaphorical terms which form a separate corpus with its own laws, typological characteristics and models. We studied the prevalence and role of terminological metaphors in the sublanguage of dentistry, and developed the semantic typology which is based on the sources of metaphorical transfer of meanings. The universal sources, generating metaphorical terms in dentistry, can be grouped into anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and botanical categories. The study of metaphorization mechanisms in dental terminology enabled us to reveal the origin of metaphorical meanings.The analyzed metaphorical terms perform nominative function, filling the empty conceptual gaps and thus providing the names of physiological phenomena or pathologies by means of already known words.