METAPHOR AND CONCEPTUALIZATION IN ENGLISH AND TURKIC LANGUAGES
This paper investigates metaphor and conceptualization in English and Turkic languages from a cognitive linguistic perspective. Metaphors are not merely decorative linguistic devices; rather, they are central to how human beings conceptualize abstract domains such as time, emotion, and life. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Lakoff and Johnson’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), the study compares metaphorical expressions in English with those found in Turkic languages, particularly Uzbek, Turkish, and Kazakh. Through a comparative-analytical method, examples from idioms, proverbs, and everyday speech are analyzed. The findings reveal both universal cognitive patterns (e.g., metaphors rooted in embodied experiences like heat for anger) and culture-specific conceptualizations (e.g., nomadic imagery in Turkic expressions versus economic-industrial imagery in English). The paper argues that metaphorical conceptualization is a window into cultural values, worldviews, and historical experiences. The conclusions have implications for translation studies, intercultural communication, and language pedagogy.
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