Životnye v russkih i pol'skih paremiâh i frazeologizmah, harakterizuûŝih um i glupost'

Abstract

The article focuses on the Russian and Polish proverbial and idiomatic units (mainly of folk origin) typical for describing the human intellect and foolishness containing the zoonyms referring to some birds and mammals. The analysis of the Russian material shows high frequency of animal names referring to birds, especially hens and geese which in the folk/ mythological reflection receive a lot of negative features. These features are the symbols of foolishness and narrow-mindedness. On the other hand, the Polish proverbial and idiomatic material shows that the similar symbolism is reflected by the representatives of some mammals.