[Lexicog] animal metaphors

[John Roberts]

Fritz Goerling wrote:


> I wonder how referring to people by animal names works across
> languages. Here is an example:
> In German if you refer to a man by "steer" that can be a compliment
> to his virility:
> a famous Bavarian political leader was called "der Stier (the steer)
> of Munich", likewise, a well-known French leader was named "le taureau
> de Paris" (the steer of Paris).
> to refer to a policeman by "Bulle" (bull) is an insult
> to refer to a woman by "Kuh" means "she is stupid"
> To my knowledge "steer" does not work the same way in English,
> for "bull" you would rather say "he is bull-headed", and "she is a cow"
> means, so I was told, "she is fat".
>
A "steer" in German is a "stud" in English and a "pig" in Amele (PNG). Any
other offers?

John Roberts





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