The metonymic folk model of language in Turkish
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Melike Baş
Abstract
Situated within the framework of linguistic embodiment, this chapter examines the speech-related terms ‘voice’, ‘mouth’, ‘tongue’, ‘lips’ and ‘chin’ in Turkish to reveal how speech and language are conceptualized in regards to these terms based on the metonymic chain model (Radden, 2001). The data of the study come from idiomatic constructions, which are analyzed in terms of their figurative uses, and the underlying conceptual metaphors and metonymies. The findings agree with Radden’s (2001) metonymic chain (i.e. speech organ – speaking – speech – language), which is expressed in conceptual code as speech organ for speaking, speaking for speech, and speech for language. The data unveil cognitive mechanisms for each term such as mouth/lip is a container, tongue movements for expression skill, chin for long talk that yield a general cognitive understanding of them. The study confirms the embodiment of verbal behavior as well as the existence of culture-specific patterns in the conceptualization of speech and language.
Abstract
Situated within the framework of linguistic embodiment, this chapter examines the speech-related terms ‘voice’, ‘mouth’, ‘tongue’, ‘lips’ and ‘chin’ in Turkish to reveal how speech and language are conceptualized in regards to these terms based on the metonymic chain model (Radden, 2001). The data of the study come from idiomatic constructions, which are analyzed in terms of their figurative uses, and the underlying conceptual metaphors and metonymies. The findings agree with Radden’s (2001) metonymic chain (i.e. speech organ – speaking – speech – language), which is expressed in conceptual code as speech organ for speaking, speaking for speech, and speech for language. The data unveil cognitive mechanisms for each term such as mouth/lip is a container, tongue movements for expression skill, chin for long talk that yield a general cognitive understanding of them. The study confirms the embodiment of verbal behavior as well as the existence of culture-specific patterns in the conceptualization of speech and language.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
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Part 1. General and Contrastive Studies
- Linguistic embodiment in linguistic experience 11
- Polysemic chains, body parts and embodiment 31
- Body-part terms as a linguistic topic and the relevance of body-parts as tools 53
- Towards a semantic lexicon of body part terms 77
- Body part terms in musical discourse 99
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Part 2. Grammaticalization Studies
- ‘Body’ and the relationship between verb and participants 117
- On the grammatical uses of the ‘head’ in Wolof 133
- Multifaceted body parts in Murui 169
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Part 3. Lexical Case Studies
- The metonymic folk model of language in Turkish 195
- Keeping an eye on body parts 215
- The conceptualization of ido ‘eye’ in Hausa 247
- Conceptualisations of entrails in English and Polish 269
- Cultural conceptualisations of nawsk ‘belly/stomach’ in Kurdish 291
- Index 309
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part 1. General and Contrastive Studies
- Linguistic embodiment in linguistic experience 11
- Polysemic chains, body parts and embodiment 31
- Body-part terms as a linguistic topic and the relevance of body-parts as tools 53
- Towards a semantic lexicon of body part terms 77
- Body part terms in musical discourse 99
-
Part 2. Grammaticalization Studies
- ‘Body’ and the relationship between verb and participants 117
- On the grammatical uses of the ‘head’ in Wolof 133
- Multifaceted body parts in Murui 169
-
Part 3. Lexical Case Studies
- The metonymic folk model of language in Turkish 195
- Keeping an eye on body parts 215
- The conceptualization of ido ‘eye’ in Hausa 247
- Conceptualisations of entrails in English and Polish 269
- Cultural conceptualisations of nawsk ‘belly/stomach’ in Kurdish 291
- Index 309
