Conceptual Mappings of Metaphorical Euphemisms in Ekegusii Circumcision Ceremonies

https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.5.4.24

Authors

Keywords:

Culture, Egekusii, Euphemisms, Metaphorical Euphemisms, Cognitive Linguistics

Abstract

Conceptual mappings are a key tenet of the Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) and are sets of systematic correspondences between the source and target domains. As observed in the relevant literature, it is argued that metaphors establish a conceptual link between a source and target concept such that the target domain is understood through a source domain. As a result, the correspondences are constrained by different mapping scopes which help avoid the transfer of just any kind of feature from the source to the target concept. In this study, we sought to examine the conceptual mappings of metaphorical euphemisms in Ekegusii Circumcision Ceremonies. The study analyzed the conceptual mappings of metaphorical euphemisms used in EC based on the essentials of cognitive metaphor analysis and principles of Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT). The metaphor-related words (MRWs) identified using the Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIPVU) were subjected to conceptual analysis using the CMT. The conceptualization of the target domain euphemisms was obtained through projections in the source domain such as objects, animals, plants, and human beings. In this view, the study identified the following four generic metaphors in Ekegusii Circumcision Discourse; Circumcision is a Human being, Circumcision is an Animal, Circumcision is a Plant and Circumcision is an Object. The study employed a descriptive research design. A combined method of elicitation and the native speaker’s intuition was used to collect culture-specific metaphorical euphemisms through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). The quantitative data on the other hand was analyzed using the statistical Package for Social Sciences which is; Chi-square at a significant level of 0.05 was employed to test the association between the overall cross-tabulated corpus of the generic level metaphors versus the influence of demographic variables on the usage of euphemisms in Ekegusii Circumcision ceremonies. The findings of this study not only contribute to the existing literature in cognitive linguistics but also indicate that Ekegusii speakers conceptualize circumcision through metaphorical euphemisms. The findings of this study are of benefit to the ethnographers and metaphor theorists for further reference.

Dimensions

Akama, J.S., Maxon, R 2006. Ethnography of the Gusii of Western Kenya: A vanishing Cultural Heritage. New York: The Edwin Mellen press.

Aradi, C. E. (2017). A diachronic investigation of the Great Chain of Being metaphor in religion and political discourses of early modern and enlightenment philosophy. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 7(6), 214- 222.

Anudo, C. and Kodak. (2019). Conceptual metaphor and image schema representations of cancer-related deaths of selected prominent Kenyan personalities in the print media. Nairobi journal of Humanities and social sciences, 4(3)

Anudo, C. N. A (2018). Conceptual metaphors in Dholuo: A cognitive linguistic approach. (Unpublished doctorial dissertation). Kisii University, Kenya.

Bayne, K. (2007). Development of the human research animal bond and its impact on animal well-being. Oxford University press.

Evans, V. (2007). Towards a cognitive compositional semantics. In U. Magnusson, H., Kardela and A. Glaz (Eds.), further insights in semantics and lexicography (pp. 11-42). Poland: Marie Curie University Press.

Evans, V., and Green, M. (2006). Cognitive semantics: An introduction. Edinburg: Edinburg University Press.

Kovecses, Z. (1986). Metaphor of anger, pride and love: A lexical approach to the structure of concepts. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

https://doi.org/10.1075/pb.vii.8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/pb.vii.8

Kovecses, Z. (1988). The language of love: The semantics of passion in conversational English. Lewisburg, Pa: Bucknell University Press.

K¨ovecses, Z. (2000). Metaphor and emotion: Language, culture and the body in human feeling. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

K¨ovecses, Z. (2002) Metaphor: A practical introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

K¨ovecses, Z. (2005). Metaphor in culture: Universality and variation. New York: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511614408 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511614408

K¨ovecses, Z. (2008). Metaphor and culture. In Grabes. A. Nunning and S. Baumbach (Eds.), Metaphor shaping culture and theory (pp 3-16). Tubinngen: Gunter Narr Verlag.

Kramsch, C. 1998. Language and Culture, New York: Oxford University press.

Lakoff, G. (1993). The contemporary theory of metaphor. In A. Ortony (Ed.), Metaphor and thought (2nded.) (pp 17-38). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511816802.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511816802.003

Lakoff, G., and Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Mathewson, S.T.T. (2012). Classical theory of categorization. Encyclopedia of life support systems.

Nyakoe, G.N., Ongarora, D.O. and Oloo, P. (2014). An analysis of the food metaphor in Ekegusii HIV and AIDS discourse. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences,4(1), 221 -228. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v4-i8/1100 DOI: https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v4-i8/1100

Nyakundi, A. O. (2010). The translation of figurative language in the book of Proverbs in Ekegusii Bible (Unpublished MA thesis), Kenyatta University, Kenya.

Obwoge, C. (2014). A lexico-semantic analysis of Ekegusii circumcision social varieties (Unpublished MA thesis), University of South Africa, South Africa.

Rosch, E.R., Mervis, C.B., Wayne D. G., David, J, and Penny. B.B. (1976). Basic objects in natural categories. Cognitive psychology, 8:382-439.

https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-0285(76)90013-X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-0285(76)90013-X

Ungerer, F and Schmid, H. (2006). An introduction to cognitive linguistics (2nded) London: Pearson Longman.

Published

2024-10-25

How to Cite

Nyarumba, M. D., Mudogo, B., & Mandillah, L. (2024). Conceptual Mappings of Metaphorical Euphemisms in Ekegusii Circumcision Ceremonies. African Journal of Empirical Research, 5(4), 287–301. https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.5.4.24