Conceptualization of Man's Behavioral and Physical Characteristics as Animal Metaphors in the Spoken Discourse of Khezel People

Abstract

Cognitive theory of metaphor has changed our understanding of metaphor as a figurative device to a matter of thought. It holds that metaphors are cognitively as well as culturally motivated. Despite having similar images in some languages, the culture-specific aspect of animal metaphors inspired the researchers to explore this area of metaphoric system in a local Kurdish variety to investigate how animal metaphors are reflected in spoken discourse. To achieve this objective, the authors collected and analyzed animal expressions adopted for praise and degradation of physical and behavioral characteristics in Khezeli dialect in Ilam, Iran. To create a representative corpus, the authors scrutinized spoken language and oral poetry of the dialect. The collected data indicate that more wild than domestic and more degrading than praising animal expressions are used for man's physical and behavioral characteristics. It is also confirmed that aspects of appearance, size, physical characteristics as well as body parts of animals are transferred to humans. Further, users' attitudes toward animals reflected themselves in their metaphors. Users were also found to have three categories of positive, positive/negative, and negative connotations for animal names. Despite the existence of similarities in the underlying patterns of metaphoric use in different languages, the research came to the conclusion that the types of animals used, their connotations and interpretations may be worlds apart and taking the meaning of one for another may lead to misunderstanding.

The Connotative Meanings of Animal Names in the Algerian Society

“…People's perceptions also played a role in each connotation. According to Aliakbari and Faraji (2013), animal expressions can reveal individual or social thoughts. The findings also revealed that animal names in the Algerian society are more degrading than praising, and are used to describe aspects of appearance, size, physical characteristics, and behavioral characteristics by transferring animal features to humans.…”

“…Ultimately, animal expressions serve as a reflection of individuals' and society's beliefs, cultural backgrounds, social behaviors, and roles. Aliakbari and Faraji (2013) conducted research on the metaphorical system of a local Kurdish dialect, focusing on the use of animal metaphors in order to explore their cultural significance in spoken discourse. Their approach involved collecting and analyzing animal expressions used to praise and degrade physical and behavioral characteristics in the Khezeli dialect of Ilam, Iran, over a period of three years.…”