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Reference:

The Comparison of Mimic Phraseological Units Based on Italian and Spanish Material

Baeva Ekaterina Igorevna

PhD in Philology

PhD In Philology, Senior lecturer of the Department of Romance Philology, Voronezh State University.

394000, Russia, Voronezh region, Voronezh, Lenin Square, 10

katybaev@yandex.ru

DOI:

10.25136/2409-8698.2022.12.39351.2

EDN:

RVYEPP

Received:

08-12-2022


Published:

30-12-2022


Abstract: The article discusses the semantic features of mimic phraseological units of Italian and Spanish and their use to characterize communicative behavior. The classification of sign phraseological units of the Italian and Spanish languages according to functional and semantic criteria is given. The methods of linguistic expression of visual communication that reflect the inner sphere of a person in the Italian and Spanish language picture of the world are presented. For the first time, an attempt was made to conduct a comparative study of mimic phraseological units on the material of two closely related languages using a comparative method. The analysis showed that the mimic phraseological units found in Spanish and Italian have a large number of identical equivalents.     The article discusses the semantic features of mimic phraseological units of Italian and Spanish and their use to characterize communicative behavior. The classification of sign phraseological units of the Italian and Spanish languages according to functional and semantic criteria is given. The methods of linguistic expression of visual communication that reflect the inner sphere of a person in the Italian and Spanish language picture of the world are presented. For the first time, an attempt was made to conduct a comparative study of mimic phraseological units on the material of two closely related languages using a comparative method. The analysis showed that the mimic phraseological units found in Spanish and Italian have a large number of identical equivalents.


Keywords:

communicative behavior, facial expressions, gestural phraseological units, dominant communicative signs, linguistic mentality, semiotic classes of gestures, Italian language, Spanish language, comparative studies, non-verbal semiotics

Spanish and Italian belong to the Iberian-Romance branch of languages, along with other Romance languages, which, in turn, belong to the Italic branch of the Indo-European family (Latin). Spanish has been taught in Italy for many centuries, although its spread has sometimes experienced long unfavorable periods due to historical events and cultural dynamics. In fact, the idea that Spanish was extremely easy for Italians to learn prevailed for a long time in Italy. Phrases such as "Basta aggiungere una -s e il gioco e fatto" (Eng. "Just add an ‘s’ and you’re done"), "Io parlo lo spagnolo, tre anni fa sono stato due mesi a Madrid!" (Eng. "I speak Spanish. Three years ago, I was in Madrid for two months!") or the most common: "No, se il cliente e spagnolo ci capiamo, non c'e bisogno dell'interprete" (Eng. "No, if the client is Spanish, then an interpreter is not needed. We will understand each other"). Of course, it cannot be denied that an Italian, at least at the initial stages of learning Spanish, has an advantage over a Chinese or a German learner. But, on the other hand, this is often a misleading factor. To achieve a good level of language proficiency, Spaniards must make additional efforts to "break away" from the structure of their native language. The presence of not only similarities but also specifics is manifested at all levels of the language, in particular in phraseology, which will be demonstrated in this article.

The object of consideration is non-verbal means of communication in Spanish and Italian. The subject of the analysis is Spanish and Italian phraseological units (FE), which serve for the verbal transmission of the meanings of facial gestures with various connotative signs.

The data from explanatory dictionaries, sign dictionaries of Spanish and Italian languages, and phraseological dictionaries served as the material for the study. To describe the similarities and differences in the phraseology of two closely related languages, we will use the methods of contrastive lexicology described in the MA dissertation by I. A. Sternina, "Comparison as a Linguistic Methodology" [see: Sternina, Sternin, 2021].

The phraseology reflects the cultural and historical experience of the people and the peculiarities of the members' relationships in society. Phraseological units, having in their internal form figurative representations with ethnocultural content, become models of perception of the surrounding world and standards of any manifested qualities [Sternina, Sternin, 2021, p. 53].

The nomination "sign phraseology" was proposed by G. E. Kreidlin. In his opinion, which we share, "a gesture is a movement of the hands, feet, head, facial expressions or facial expressions, poses and sign gestures" [Kreidlin, 2004, p. 10]. As the results of the preliminary analysis showed, Kreidlin's classification correlates with the verbal explication of certain elements of communicative behavior, which can be most vividly and figuratively conveyed by phraseological units.

According to the results of the analysis of phraseological units, several groups can be distinguished. We attributed symptomatic FE to the first group. Depending on the manifestation of emotion, we divided them into two subgroups:

1) units expressing negative emotions;

2) units that have in their content the characteristic of positive emotions of the subject.

It was noted that the paralinguistic ways of transmitting information in the two languages under consideration are expressed through FE associated with eye dynamics and gestures, which are most actively manifested in the process of both verbal and nonverbal communication. Facial expressions play a significant role in communication and represent a necessary stage in the development of iconic human behavior. According to I.N. Gorelov, the system of these signs has remained unchanged in its universal manifestations and represents "the external motor skills of the functional basis of speech" [Gorelov, 2009, p. 2]. The main similarity between Spanish and Italian facial expressions is that they are expressed openly and convey the emotional part of communication, unlike, for example, the countries in the East, where it is customary to hide and control their facial expressions.

Sign language is less redundant than natural language. The point, of course, is not only in the absence of signs in it at the level of inflections or prefixes but in specific capabilities. Modality, for example, is expressed comprehensively, together with the subject designation—through facial expressions and movement; prepositional constructions are depicted "objectively" without distinguishing between "basic" and "service" [Gorelov, 2009, p. 52].

Most studies of the expressive structure were carried out based on the works of R. Woodworths and H. Schlosberg. In the first edition of Experimental Psychology in 1938, an American psychologist proposed dividing facial expressions into six types. His linear scale went from love, happiness, joy, fun (I) through surprise (II), fear (III), suffering, anger, determination (IV), and disgust (V) to contempt (VI) [Woodworths, 1950, p. 150]. Later, in 1941, H. Schlosberg added images of facial expressions [Pease, 1992].

Repeatedly expressive Italian and Spanish facial expressions have been noted in cinema. Most often, actors resort to hypertrophied gestures and facial expressions, which can sometimes reach the grotesque [Arsentieva, 1989, p. 100]. Depending on the internal state, changes in the expression of the eyes are systemic in nature: wide open from anger or fear, extinguished from sadness, the shine of the eyes from excitement, etc. Let's see how such changes are verbalized in Spanish and Italian FE.

Joy:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

los ojos brillan

to be happy (lit. "eyes shine, shine")

occhi che brillano

los ojos relampaguean

eyes sparkle

occhi che luccicano

Discontent and anger:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

echar fuego por los ojos (lit. "let the fire out of your eyes")

get really mad at someone

fulminare con lo sguardo (sparkle eyes)

Aggression:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

ojos inyectados en sangre

be furious (lit. "bloodshot eyes")

occhi iniettati di sangue

Indifference:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

ojos tristes

to be sad (lit. "sad eyes")

occhi tristi

cerrar los ojos

tired, the desire to be alone (lit. "close your eyes")

chiudere gli occhi

bajar los ojos

to be ashamed (lit. "lowered eyes")

occhi bassi

Surprise:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

desencajar los ojos

to be surprised (lit. "stare/open your eyes wide")

sbarrare gli occhi

con los ojos fuera de las orbitas

I am surprised and want to understand better (lit. "out of orbit" [about the eyes])

sgranare gli occhi (stare)

ser todo ojos

to be surprised (lit. "look with all eyes")

fare tanto d’occhi

Fright:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

poner ojos de plato, desencajar los ojos

being scared (lit. "make big eyes" [like a plate])

occhi sbarrati (lit. "staring eyes")

Excessive interest:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

comerse (devorar, tragarse) con los ojos a uno, una cosa

devour

mangiarsi con gli occhi (lit. "devour with eyes")

clavar los ojos (en)

drilling

fissare gli occhi

clavar los ojos (en), no apartar la mirada (de); comer con los ojos (a)

dig in

puntare gli occhi

Self-presentation of the individual:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

semblantear

look into the eyes

occhi negli occhi

mirar por encima del hombro

look down

dar con el pie a uno

look down from the top

guardare dall’alto in basso

?rsele los ojos detr?s de la comida

look into your mouth (regretting what someone has eaten)

mirar a alguien de abajo arriba

look up from the bottom

guardare di sotto in su

mirar a la cara

face to face; to be on a par / not to be afraid

guardare in faccia

Some eye movements may be accompanied or duplicated by eyebrow movements:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

fruncir las cejas

don't believe;

to be dissatisfied (lit. "frown")

aggrottare le sopracciglia

fruncir el ce?o

(el entrecejo) (lit. "wrinkle the bridge of your nose")

frown

accigliato

In the course of the study, all the selected phraseological units can be conditionally divided into three groups according to the immediacy/mediateness of the transmission of emotions.

The first group includes FE, based on real facial gestures:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

no pegar ojo

didn't sleep a wink,

stay up all night

non chiudere occhio

cerrar los ojos

close your eyes to something, in front of something, look through your fingers

chiudere gli occhi a qualcosa

abrir desmesuradamente los ojos, desencajar los ojos

stare/open your eyes wide

sbarrare gli occhi

sgranare gli occhi

posar la mirada (los ojos, la vista)

turn your gaze

rivolgere lo sguardo

atraer (llamar) la atenci?n

hint with a glance

fare cenno con lo sguardo

In the second group of FE, there is a rethinking of these movements, the symbolization of the gesture, but the actual gesture remains at the heart of the nomination:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

no perder de vista

keep your eyes on (anyone, anything)

Spanish: don't lose sight of

it.: watch out, keep an eye on

tenere d’occhio

mirar de arriba abajo

look down from the top,

look down

guardare dall’alto in basso

The third group consists of phraseological units/metaphors:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

estar pendiente de los labios

eating (eating) with someone's eyes

divorare con gli occhi

?mucho ojo, que la vista enga?a!

don't believe (don't believe) your eyes

non credere ai propri occhi

undress with your eyes

spogliare con gli occhi

mirada fija, fr?a

icy gaze (experiencing cold anger)

sguardo gelido

mirada dura

heavy gaze (have no compassion)

sguardo duro

echar fuego por los ojos

flash your eyes (get very angry at someone)

fulminare con lo sguardo

sweet eyes (to be in love)

fare gli occhi dolci

indicate with a glance (that is, I am talking about this person or object)

Indicare con lo sguardo

Positive emotion in Italian and Spanish is expressed by the adjective buono/buenos:

Italian

Translation into English

Spanish

guardare di buon occhio

look favorably (at someone); approve (of something)

mirar con buenos ojos

avere gli occhi buoni

It's good to see

di buona mano

good quality (about the product); skill, skill, dexterity

buena mano

avere buona mano

dexterous in work (lit. "have an easy/good hand")

tener uno mano ligera

Positive value:

Spanish

Translation into English

Italian

vista de lince, vista de ?guila

(letters. "the look of a lynx, the look of an eagle")

sharp, sharp-sighted, attentive eye, good eyesight

occhi lunghi (long), di linci (lynx) d'aquila (eagle), di falco (falcon)

vista aguda, penetrante

(letters. "a sharp, penetrating look")

keen eyes, sharp vision

occhi cervieri (deer eyes)

ojo experimentado

a trained, experienced eye

occhio clinico (di medico) (doctors)

mirada atenta

a careful look

occhi insonne

como los ojos de la cara

to love more than anything in the world

amare piu’ dei propri occhi

(letters. "love more than your eyes")

tener buena vista

It's good to see

avere gli occhi buoni

atento; cuidadoso; escrupuloso (lit. "thorough, attentive")

be very attentive

avere gli occhi alle penne (lit. "eyes on feathers")

soy todo o?dos

I'm all attention

essere tutt’occhi

h?bil; experto, diestro (lit. "skillful")

possess the skill

fare gli occhi alle pulci — to shoe a flea; to be a skilled craftsman, a craftsman (lit. "make the eyes of a flea")

Donar (grant)Probably, the editor means punctuation..... – E.U.)

to give everything for..., to sacrifice for... (lit. "give up your eyes")

dare i suoi occhi per...

con el coraz?n en la mano

with an open soul; hand on heart (lit. "with a heart in my hand")

con il cuore in mano

tener las (or unas) manos de plata, tiene unas manos que no se las merece

golden hands

mani benedette (fatate)

mani sante

mano abierta

a generous man

avere la mano larga

ser limpio de manos

be honest, incorruptible

avere le mani nette

tener uno muchas manos

work tirelessly, be agile in work

menare le mani a doppio

In Italian and Spanish, the relationship between people in a negative sense is characterized by the following semes, which for the most part, are exact equivalents:

1. With the testa/cabeza component (head): "lose your head" — perdere la testa (it.), perder la cabeza (Spanish); "fool your head" — fare a qd la testa come una campana (un cestone, un pallone, un tamburlano) (lit. "turn your head into a bell, basket, ball, tambourine"); poner/tener la cabeza como un bombo (Spanish. "turn the head into a big drum); "knock off the pantaloon" — scombussolare la testa (it. lit. "flip"), etc.

2. With the component "occhi": "to show off, to deceive" — gettare (buttare) la polvere negli occhi a qcn (it.); "open your eyes to anything" — aprire gli occhi alla verit? (it.); "close your eyes to anything" — siudere gli occhi a qualcosa (Italian); "to see a straw in someone else's eye" — vedere la pagliuzzane gli occhi altrui (Italian), ver la paja en el ojo ajeno (Spanish); "not to sleep all night" — non chiudere occhio (Italian), no pegar ojo (Spanish letters'. "not to close one eye"); "to be beside yourself" — avere gli occhi fuori delle testa (it. lit. "the eyes go out of the head"); "close your eyes to anything" — avere gli occhi foderati di prosciutto (it. lit. "eyes closed with ham"); "look into both eyes, be alert" — aver un occhio alla gatta e uno alla padella (alla pentola) (it. lit. "keep one eye on the cat, and the other on the pot"); "give your head on the cut, bet" — scomettere un occhio (it. lit. "bet on the eye").

Thus, the analysis showed that the mimic phraseological units found in Spanish and Italian have a large number of identical equivalents. Based on the analysis, an attempt was made to classify the mimic FE of Italian and Spanish people by their expressed meanings and functions in communicative behavior.

Compared with sign FE with the "hand" component, there were slightly fewer units with the "eye" component in the phraseological systems of the Spanish and Italian languages [Sukhanova, 2021, p. 53]. In general, all units are able to express a wide variety of relationships and the whole palette of emotions (love, happiness, joy, fun, surprise, fear, suffering, anger, determination, disgust, and contempt). The predominance of FE with a positive connotation with the "hand" and "eye" component explicates the positive attitude of both peoples to diligence and skill, as well as one of the main dominant signs of their communicative behavior—theatricality and publicity. Therefore, gestures and facial expressions are an indivisible component of it and often complement the utterance or function as independent deictic elements of speech. The equivalence of most FE is explained by the universality of their meanings and the similarity of the main features of the communicative behavior of Italian and Spanish people.

References
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