“Life” and “Death” in Axiological Paradigm

Abstract

This research analyzed the Russian and German phraseological units of the dyad “Life – Death”, on the basis of which the main types of axiologemes are revealed. These types of axiologemes are general and specific images of the phraseological units, which describe traditional concept of life and death of the Russian and German people. The research relevance was substantiated by an increasing role of an axiological aspect in the context of cross-cultural communication. Methods applied in the research included the analysis of lexicographic interpretations and etymology of the Russian and German phraseological units, component analysis to examine the structure of the meaning of the studied units, and equivalent comparison of phraseologisms’ meaning. Therefore, it could be concluded that the value “Life” and the anti-value “Death” in the axiological paradigm have a characteristic of ambivalence. Finally, the results could be helpful for compiling dictionaries, professional activity of translators, and linguist trainings.