The role of somatisms in polysemantic phraseological units: a cognitive and cultural feature

Аннотация

Somatisms are phraseological units containing body-related components. They play an important role in the semantic and cognitive development of language. This article studies how somatic components contribute to polysemy, analyzing their metaphorical, emotional, cognitive, and cultural aspects. Using theories from cognitive linguistics, including conceptual metaphor theory (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980), this study explains how somatisms develop polysemantic meanings in the Uzbek and English languages. The findings show the universal and culturally specific nature of somatic components in polysematic phraseological units (PUs). Keywords: Somatic components, phraseological units, polysemy, cognitive linguistics, metaphorical expressions, semantic universality, cognitive metaphor theory. cognition while also being shaped by cultural Introduction: The term “somaticˮ was first introduced interpretations. For example, Uzbek polysemantic into linguistics by Estonian scholar F. Vack, who phraseological unit “ko‘ngli to‘ldiˮ (His heart is full) observed that body-part terms are one of the most illustrates how bodily metaphors create multiple ancient linguistic foundations of phraseology [Vack, meaning, ranging from satisfaction to emotional 1950]. He argued that somatic expressions are deeply fulfillment. In this article, we try to study and analyze rooted in human cognition, serving as stable elements that how somatisms create polysemy in phraseology, of language. Building on Vack’s work, E.M. the cognitive and cultural basis of phraseologisms with Mordkovich introduced the concept of “phraseological somatic component and comparative analysis of somatismˮ, applying it to Russian phraseology. In his polysemy in phraseological units with somatisms in study “Semantic-thematic groups of somatic Uzbek and English. phraseologismsˮ, he categorized these expressions into cognitive, emotional, and action-oriented groups In the 80s of the XX century, linguists Lakoff and [Mordkovich, 1965]. Johnson introduced conceptual metaphor theory (CMT) in cognitive linguistics which examines how In English linguistics, Logan Smith emphasized the somatic expressions emerge from bodily experiences. enormous presence of body-part-based phraseology, A key principle of CMT is that abstract concepts are arguing that it enriches figurative language [Smith, understood through bodily experience. Linguist 1925]. He classified English somatic idioms into explains that conceptual structure is meaningful categories such as vision-related, heart-related, and because it is embodied, that is, it arises from, and is tied hand-related expressions. to, our preconceptual bodily experiences. [Lakoff, Somatic components of phraseological units include 1987: 267]. Since the body is a universal reference references to body parts such as the heart, head, eyes, point, expressions related to heart, hands, and eyes are hands, or stomach. These expressions are often found in many languages. His theory helps explain how polysemantic, which express multiple meanings somatic phraseological units create polysemy. For depending on context, cultural influences, and example, the metaphor “THE HEART IS A CONTAINER cognitive mechanisms. Many linguists, such as Piirainen FOR EMOTIONSˮ underlies polysemantic (2012), Kövecses (2002), and Wierzbicka (1999), argue phraseological units in Uzbek and English cultures: that somatic phraseology reflects universal human International Journal Of Literature And Languages 74 https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijll International Journal Of Literature And Languages (ISSN: 2771-2834) - Uzbek: Ko‘ngli to‘ldi (His heart is full) → Satisfaction, joy or deep sorrow. - “His heart burstˮ (English) → contentment. - English: My heart is full → overwhelmed with emotions. Emotional fulfillment. 3. Cultural conceptualization is another means because According to this universal, somatic phraseological of polysemy can be culture-specific. For example: units stem from underlying human experiences. - “Boshi osmonga yetdiˮ (Uzbek, literal: “His head However, their interpretation is shaped by cultures reached the skyˮ) → extreme happiness. [Kövecses, 2005]. Cognitive linguists argue that - “On cloud nineˮ (English, metaphorical equivalent) → polysemy arises from conceptual mappings between extreme happiness. Thus, somatic expressions physical experiences and abstract meanings develop multiple meanings due to metaphorical, [Langacker, 2008: 37-38]. Kövecses studies how metonymic, and cultural shifts [Dobrovol’skij & emotions, culture, and cognition shape language and Piirainen, 2005: 91-93]. According to Lakoff & explains that there are three cognitive mechanisms Johnson [1980: 30], bodily experiences shape abstract that contribute to polysemy in somatic phraseological thought, leading to universal cognitive metaphors. The units [Kövecses, 2002: 183-195]: metaphor “THE HEART AS A CONTAINER FOR EMOTIONSˮ appears in multiple languages, supporting the cognitive u