Metaphors of Mediation in Slovene Epitaphs

Abstract

The epitaph (in meaning of 'a statement in verse'l) is still an important part of Slovene popular culture and tradition to put up epitaphs in cemeteries in Slovenia continues in 1980s, This paper is based on hundreds of epitaphs collected in some 98 cemeteries in Slovenia in 1983, The metaphoric language, including metaphors of medi­ ation, is an important component of many epitaphs and it is purpose of this paper to show how such language may provide a possible clue to human condition and how an analysis such as this may render human situation more intelligible. D. Deshler suggests that metaphoric use is 'the stuff with which we make sense of our world and G. Lakoff and M. 10hnson characterize 'essence of as understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another.J And, as far as linguistic pursuits go, 1.M. Sadock says that the most important property of metaphor [is 1 its nonliteralness. 4 Epitaphs and tombstone inscriptions in general may also be viewed as being (if I may borrow and apply a phrase from 1. Fernandez) at center of human condition' because of very fact that they refer to dying, and dying as we know is a transition from life to death, from culture to nature. that is, a cultural (and physical) being becomes a mere natural object. Death is thus opposite of life. This opposition or contradiction, inherent in our mortality. cannot be resolved or overcome, for dead do not return. 6 Nevertheless. this opposition between life and death may be mediated so that in end death might be overcome. that is. it might be coped with more easily since after all as one person (1940-1973) put it. Nisem5vel, da bi umrl (TV)7 'I did not live in order to die.' This is done by metaphors of mediation. S Our discussion of metaphors of mediation will concentrate on two major aspects of this kind of symbolic activity in our epitaphs, namely. use of nature or natural phenomena and, in turn. use of place references (the case or orientational-spatial metaphoric formula. HAPPY is UP; SAD is DOWN). In death-and-nature category. following components of 'nature' appear to be especially common: flowers, gardens. valley. moun­ tains. and stars. Our first text or epitaph. i.e. a statement in verse. contains three such examples of metaphor: