Étude contrastive des structures figuratives avec les verbes de mouvement

Abstract

This study aims to compare the figurative use of movement verbs in three languages, with a particular focus on idiomatic expressions. Movement verbs such as “to go,” “to come,” “to run,” “to fly,” “to swim,” or “to pass” serve as a relevant example, being used both literally and figuratively. Context plays a crucial role in determining these meanings. For example, expressions like “the truck passes”/”time passes”, “camionul trece”/”timpul trece” (Romanian), “le camion passe”/”le temps passe” (French), and “грузовик проходит”/”время проходит” (Russian) clearly illustrate the dichotomy between the literal and figurative meanings. The paper analyses the symmetry and asymmetry of the use of movement verbs in metaphorical expressions in Romanian, French, and Russian through a contrastive approach. Practical exercises are also proposed to differentiate between literal and figurative meanings, highlighting both the theoretical aspects and applicability in the process of learning foreign languages. The results of the study contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of figurative expressions in the three languages and provide useful tools for their correct usage by learners.