THE CONCEPTS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE IN THE BULGARIAN LINGUISTIC PICTURE OF THE WORLD

Abstract

The study compares the concepts HEALTH and DISEASE as fragments of the Bulgarian linguistic picture of the world. In both concepts we find a tendency for objectivization, animalization and intensification of the characteristics, as well as connection to the paired domains LIFE – DEATH, FORCE – WEAKNESS, GOOD – BAD, UP – DOWN, WEALTH – POVERTY, NORM – DIVERSION. The image of the healthy person is controversial: he can be hard-working or lazy, clever or foolish, even dishonest and pretending to be sick. Health is an essential element of greetings and farewells, blessings and toasts, while disease is present in curses.