“Sword” metaphors in Nikita Khrushchev’s political rhetoric

Abstract

There is no doubt that paremias are not only ubiquitous but also all-inclusive in their comments on the multifaceted aspects of the human condition. The proverbial wisdom of the world is well aware of the interrelationships of war and peace over the countries, and paremias have long been employed during the times of tension. “Sword” metaphors from the worldwide scene of proverbs have found repetitive use in the verbal arguments against aggression and warfare. The paper deals with the repertoire of proverbial texts with the symbolic component “sword” utilized in Nikita Khrushchev’s public speeches and writings (in Russian as well as in their English translations) made during the Cold War period between the United States of America and the Soviet Union. The system of metaphorical conceptions for sword revealed within selected contexts is scrutinized. The comparative analysis is aimed at identifying common and specific features in the constituent element of the Russian and English phraseological units.