SEMANTIC FIELD OF THE WORD "FEAR" IN RUSSIAN AND PORTUGUESE
The article analyzes the semantic fields of the word “fear” and compare usages of this predicative name in Russian and Portuguese. Analysis revealed three universal syntactic structures that describe this emotional state (ES) in Russian and Portuguese. All actants of this structure are analyzed: subject, ES predicate and the cause of fear, various ways of indicating the cause in Portuguese and syntactic means of its expression. Temporal orientation of the cause and its evaluation are investigated. It is maintained that fear is a graduated, manifestly expressed, uncontrollable, time-limited emotional state. Language metaphor represent fear as a liquid, gas-like, cold or heavy substance, filling the “vessel” of emotions. Comparison of semantic fields of fear and amazement revealed that Portuguese verbs assombrar and espantar can express both emotions. Main conditions that allow treatment of these verbs as predicates of fear are described. In conclusion it is stated that native speakers of Portuguese comprehend these emotional states as a continuum of emotions overflowing from one into another, while Russian speakers are always making a clear distinction between them.