Abstract
In this paper, we analyze, contrastively, Akan and Hebrew euphemistic expressions for death using the theoretical framework of the Conceptual Metaphor Theory espoused by Lakoff and Johnson (1980). This cognitive approach enables to demonstrate the mitigating power of metaphors used as a dynamic source for euphemistic reference with the ability to conceal offensive and taboo aspects of the target domain. We have put various Akan and Hebrew euphemisms into five categories of death metaphors with the aim to contrastively establish similarities and differences in the conceptualization of death in the two languages. Our intention is to demonstrate how metaphors are employed as euphemistic device for speaking indirectly, unprovocatively and respectfully about death. This study specifically reveals how the Akan and Hebrew cultures, defined by their respective languages, share the same attitude to death.
Highlights
The term “cognitive linguistics” has been employed to refer to an inter-disciplinary branch of linguistics that combines knowledge and research from linguistics and psychology. Ungerer & Schmid
This paper aims at establishing whether DEATH metaphors derived from Akan euphemistic expressions may hold in the Biblical Hebrew language
The present study has provided evidence that euphemisms used to refer to death taboo are well accounted for in terms of the Conceptual Metaphor Theory
Summary
The term “cognitive linguistics” has been employed to refer to an inter-disciplinary branch of linguistics that combines knowledge and research from linguistics and psychology. Ungerer & Schmid The term “cognitive linguistics” has been employed to refer to an inter-disciplinary branch of linguistics that combines knowledge and research from linguistics and psychology. F36) define cognitive linguistics as “an approach to language that is based on our experience of the world and the way we perceive and conceptualize it.”. Conceptual metaphor, in cognitive linguistics, refers to understanding one idea in terms of another, for example, understanding time in terms of money “I spent several hours on my studies yesterday”). The idea of conceptual metaphor was first extensively explored by Lakoff. C. Owiredu and Johnson (1980) in their book, Metaphors We Live By. In the last four decades, the field of metaphor research within the broader discipline of cognitive linguistics has developed extensively
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