The present paper deals with the metaphorical segment of the Russian linguistic picture of the world, where metaphors with the semantics of water / liquid are used to describe intellectual activity. The methodology of the research combines techniques of structural semantics (componential analysis and distributive analysis) and cognitive linguistics (linguistic modelling and introspection). In the article some basic source images participating in metaphorical modelling of intellectual phenomena (thoughts, ideas, mind, etc.) as water / liquid are considered: 1) motion of water / liquid; 2) variation of temperature and / or aggregate state of water / liquid; 3) turbidity of water / liquid; 4) absorption of water / liquid. The correspondence between these source images and concrete situations of intellectual activity described metaphorically is revealed. The emergence of ideas, memories, etc., as well as the development of thought process is interpreted by source image of motion of water / liquid. The perception of information is metaphorically represented as absorption of water / liquid. The intensity of thought processes is compared to seething of water / liquid. The inability to think clearly is interpreted by source image of turbid water / liquid. The disappearance of ideas, memories, etc. is metaphorically represented as a transition from the liquid state into the gaseous one. The majority of metaphors examined in this article are axiologically neutral, but in particular contexts an evaluative component may be present. The exception is the metaphors describing inability to think clearly, which have a pronounced negative evaluation. In metaphors with the semantics of water / liquid, which are used to describe intellectual activity, the idea of passivity of a person to thought processes is mainly embodied. A thinking person is chiefly interpreted as an object of influence of ideas, thoughts, memories, etc., or a container in which they are. Thus, the conclusion is made that the use of metaphors with the semantics of water / liquid is a widespread and productive way to characterize the intellectual activity in the Russian linguistic picture of the world.

Описан фрагмент русской языковой картины мира, в котором метафоры с исходной семантикой воды / жидкости используются для характеристики интеллектуальной деятельности человека. Рассмотрено несколько основных исходных образов, участвующих в метафорическом моделировании явлений интеллектуальной сферы (мыслей, сознания, разума и т.п.) как воды / жидкости. Исследование выполнено на методологической базе структурно-семантической и когнитивной лингвистики.