Metaphoric models representing the LOVE concept in the English and Spanish song discourse

The aim of the research is to systematise the cognitive metaphoric models represented in the song discourse of English-speaking and Spanish-speaking people and connected with the LOVE concept. The paper considers two different approaches to the notion of “concept”, provides its most suitable definition; by analysing dictionaries, thesauri, English and Spanish phraseological dictionaries, the components of the LOVE concept are distinguished, on the basis of English-language and Spanish-language song discourse, metaphoric models representing the analysed concept are defined: LOVE IS A WAY, LOVE IS LIGHT, LOVE IS AN ELEMENT, LOVE IS A BATTLE, LOVE IS AN ILLNESS / LOVE IS A CURE. The academic novelty consists in systematising the national peculiarities of metaphoric models in English and Spanish linguocultures, conducting their comprehensive analysis and comparison. As a result, it has been proved that the universal concept LOVE, familiar to many cultures, has its unique features in English-language and Spanish-language cultures. English people tend to have a reverential attitude to love, they value care and compassion in a relationship, while the Spanish are passionate, emotional and impulsive.