“The First Swallow”: Avian Metaphors in Nikita Khrushchev’s Political Discourse

Birds are a rich source for metaphors in paremias that known to be significant rhetorical force various modes of communication. This article deals with the repertoire ornithological proverbial texts utilized Soviet leader’s public speeches and memoirs, as well their English translations. The metaphor human is bird, which there grounds comparison, explored. peculiarities using avian context original ways translation into scrutinized well. analysis material shows main features, shared by Target (human) Source (bird species), grounded on physiological characteristics behavioral traits, having negative slant. equivalent literal translations applied methods rendition. Of particular interest metaphorical “animalistic metamorphoses” found translation.