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Past scholars
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Ms. Monica Wagui

Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences


Project: A comparative study of conceptual metaphors in different language

Ms. Monica Wagui


In this study, conceptual metaphors were examined in a cross-linguistic context. It is based on the findings by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) that metaphor is pervasive in everyday life, not just in language but in thought and action. In their findings, Lakoff and Johnson argued that abstract concepts such as TIME, LIFE, LOVE etc., are structured along the experience we have with concrete concepts such as MONEY and LIFE. The expressions such as don’t waste my time, we have a long way to go are a few examples of the way English speakers talk about TIME and LIFE/LOVE respectively. Similar expressions were observed in languages such as Japanese and Kiswahili, suggesting that there is a universal aspect to conceptual metaphors.