A Cognitive Linguistic analysis of HAND and FACE metaphors and metonymies in Jordanian Arabic

Authors

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the metaphorical and metonymical uses of hand and face in Jordanian Arabic (JA) by adopting a version of Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) based on the notion of main meaning focus. A 30,000-word corpus was built for the sake of this study. The original Metaphor Identification Procedure (Pragglejaz Group, 2007) was employed to identify metaphorical expressions; then, Steen’s (2007) procedure was used to extract the conceptual metaphors. The results showed that hand as a source domain can be used to conceptualize character traits, cultural values, states, and emotions, whereas face as a source domain can be used to conceptualize character traits and emotions. This conceptualization is realized through metaphtonymies in which the source domain is constructed metonymically. The findings also showed that there are both similarities and differences between JA and other languages and varieties in relation to hand and face metaphorical conceptualizations. Similarities are attributed to the universality of human embodiment, whereas differences are related to cultural variations. The study recommends that future studies be conducted on the metaphor and metonymies of other body parts, including eye, heart, head, tongue, back, mouth, etc.

Author Biographies

Ronza Abu Rumman, University of Jordan

is an instructor in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. She received her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Jordan, Jordan. Her current research focuses on cognitive Semantics, pragmatics, (critical) discourse analysis, and second language acquisition.

 

Mohammed Obeidat, Yarmouk University

is an Associate Professor at Yarmouk University since 2013. He earned his Ph.D. in Translation Studies from the University of Salford in 2011. His research interests encompass audiovisual translation, interpreting, political discourse analysis, pragmatics, and translation theories.

 

Ahmad S Haider, Applied Science Private University

is an Associate Professor at Yarmouk University since 2013. He earned his Ph.D. in Translation Studies from the University of Salford in 2011. His research interests encompass audiovisual translation, interpreting, political discourse analysis, pragmatics, and translation theories.

 

Yousef Sahari, University of Bisha

is an Assistant Professor of Translation Studies working in the Department of English Language at the University of Bisha. He completed his PhD degree in the field of audiovisual translation from Macquarie University in 2021. He holds an MA in Interpreting and Translation Studies from Monash University in Australia, which he obtained in 2014. He has been working as a freelance translator since 2011 and is a certified translator by NAATI, ITI, and NZSTI. Additionally, he served as a Teaching Fellow at Macquarie University, where he taught various units in translation MA programs. Currently, he holds the position of Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Bisha. His research interests include audiovisual translation, translation and technology, cultural studies.

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Published

2024-07-06

How to Cite

Abu Rumman, R., Obeidat, M., Haider, A. S., & Sahari, Y. (2024). A Cognitive Linguistic analysis of HAND and FACE metaphors and metonymies in Jordanian Arabic. Public Journal of Semiotics, 11(1), 1–22. Retrieved from https://journals.lub.lu.se/pjos/article/view/26113

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2024): Public Journal of Semiotics

Section

Articles