Analyzing Conceptual Metaphors in Layla and Majnun in the Domains of “Actions” and “Objects” Based on the Conceptual Blending Theory
Keywords:
Metaphor, verbs, objects, Mathnawi, Layla and Majnun, conceptual mixtureAbstract
Metaphor has been studied from various perspectives including literary, linguistic, aesthetic, and psychological, and has been the subject of extensive research over centuries. In this regard, the Conceptual Metaphor Theory is one of the frameworks offering a novel perspective on metaphor, developed by Fauconnier and Turner (1998–2002) in the form of different mental spaces, including two input spaces, a generic space, and a blended space. The aim of this study is to analyze conceptual metaphors in Layla and Majnun in the domains of “actions” and “objects” based on the Conceptual Blending Theory proposed by Fauconnier and Turner (1998–2002). In this study, the mental spaces of each metaphor are examined to identify which conceptual domains are utilized in the construction of mental spaces in each metaphor. Subsequently, the meaningfulness or lack thereof of these conceptual domains is analyzed using SPSS. The results indicate that the domains used in the metaphors of Layla and Majnun can be categorized into two groups: “actions” and “objects.” In constructing the metaphors, these conceptual domains are placed within an input space and, together with another input space representing the poet’s intention, are projected into a blended space that gives rise to the metaphor. As the findings of this study reveal, all metaphors in Layla and Majnun can be analyzed based on the conceptual domains that contribute to the formation of mental spaces within the framework of the Conceptual Blending Theory.
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