Metaphorical Conceptualization of Happiness in Anywaa

Abstract

In the traditional approach, metaphor is understood as a rhetoric device used by talented people like poets and singers. This implies that metaphor is used only in language. However, after Lakoff and Johnson published Metaphors We Live By in 1980 based on Conceptual Metaphor Theory, this view was challenged with the argument that metaphor is a cognitive device with language being its physical manifestation. Thus, metaphor is used by ordinary people as part of their cognition. The present study aims at describing how the Anywaa conceptualize happiness. The theoretical framework used for the study was Conceptual Metaphor Theory. The data were obtained by using introspection, elicitation, recording and listening to daily utterances. The analyses and interpretations indicate that in Anywaa happiness is conceptualized based on source domains like TASTY FOOD, WHITE COLOUR, and SPATIAL ORIENTATION. Linguistic metaphors like jɪ̀ì mɛ́t dɔ́tʃ dītʃʌ́ŋɪ 'Your stomach is very delicious today’, j ̀ ɪ̀à wáárɔ̀'My stomach is white cotton', and tʃwíɲa jáá ŋááp máál bʌ̀ʌ̀t dʒáát̪ 'I have hanged my liver up in the tree' are some of the linguistic metaphors used to express happiness in Anywaa.The results indicate that in their conceptualization of happiness, the Anywaa select some sources over the others. For example, WHITE FLOUR is used as a source of happinness;however, RED FLOUR is not used although it is edible.