The article describes the process of metaphorization of English legal terms and examines the peculiarities of metaphorical terminology. Legal terms containing metaphorical elements present significant challenges for translation, as such concepts may be absent in the target language. The aim of this study is to identify the role of metaphorization in the formation of English legal terminology, analyze the main types of legal metaphors, and determine the specific features of their translation into Ukrainian. The object of the research is English legal terminology. The material for analysis consists of terms selected using the continuous sampling method from the following dictionaries: Dictionary of Legal Metaphors (Thomas Lundmark), Oxford Dictionary of Law (Oxford University Press), and Black’s Law Dictionary (Bryan A. Garner). The study employs a range of methods: systemic, cognitivelinguistic, etymological, and statistical. As a result of a systemic-structural analysis, it was established that metaphorization is a full-fledged and functional method of term formation in the field of law and jurisprudence. Examples of legal metaphors from various branches of law are provided. Special attention is paid to metaphorical legal terms that contain colorative (color-related) components, along with an analysis of such terminology. Thus, it can be concluded that metaphorization is a relatively productive method of term formation, although not the most frequent. At the same time, it should be noted that legal language does not tolerate ambiguity – on the contrary, texts of this type require semantic clarity and unambiguous interpretation. Further studies should consider the functioning of metaphors in different legal contexts and their impact on the perception of legal concepts.
Tetiana Mysʼ (Wed,) studied this question.