CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF CİĞER ‘LIVER-LUNG’ IN TURKISH FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONS

This study investigates the conceptualizations of the body part term ciğer (liver-lung) as it is used in the conventionalized expressions, i.e. idioms and compounds, figuratively from the cognitive linguistic perspective. Data are collected from several dictionaries, and the idiomatic expressions that include the word ciğer are analyzed in relation to the cognitive theory of metaphor and metonymy (Kövecses, 2000; Lakoff Johnson, 1980). The findings reveal an embodied cultural model for ciğer that is conceptualized as A METONYMY FOR THE PERSON, A LIVING ORGANISM, AN OBJECT OF VALUE and A CONTAINER, each of which includes diverse sub-folk models. Findings also demonstrate ciğer as A LOCUS FOR EMOTIONS expressing sadness, pity, liking/love, fear, affectivity, disliking/hate and happiness. The study highlights the supremacy of metaphors, metonymies and image schemas in the conceptualization of experiences in Turkish as well as supports the view that embodiment is culturally motivated.