“"SYMBOLISM OF HEART AND SPIRIT IN COMMON SAYINGS AND IDIOMATIC PHRASES"”
Keywords:
Paremiology, Phraseology, Heart Symbolism, Spirit in Language, Cultural Linguistics, Proverbs and Idioms, Emotional Expression, Moral and Intellectual Concepts, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Linguistic Interpretation.Abstract
This article explores the representation of 'heart' and 'spirit' in paremiological and phraseological texts, offering a unique perspective on how different cultures and languages interpret these concepts. Paremiology, the study of proverbs, and phraseology, the study of fixed expressions and idioms, are used as lenses to understand the symbolic and metaphorical significance of the heart and spirit. The article highlights the contrast between Western and Eastern interpretations of the heart, typically seen as a symbol of emotion and morality in the former, and intellect and decision-making in the latter. Similarly, the concept of spirit is examined in its varied cultural manifestations, ranging from ancestral wisdom to individual resilience. This study provides insight into the cultural attitudes towards emotion, morality, and life, emphasizing the role of language in shaping our understanding of these abstract concepts. The analysis contributes to a deeper comprehension of cultural diversity in emotional and intellectual expression through linguistic expressions.
References
Cultural Linguistics and Ethnolinguistics:
Geeraerts, Dirk and Cuyckens, Hubert. "Handbook of Cognitive Linguistics." Oxford University Press. This handbook offers an in-depth look into cognitive linguistics, which is crucial for understanding how different cultures conceptualize abstract concepts like heart and spirit.
Comparative Paremiology:
Mieder, Wolfgang. "Proverbs: A Handbook." Greenwood Press. Mieder's work is a comprehensive resource on the study of proverbs, providing insights into how different cultures use these expressions.
Cognitive Psychology and Language:
Lakoff, George, and Johnson, Mark. "Metaphors We Live By." University of Chicago Press. This seminal work explores how metaphor shapes our understanding of concepts, which is key to understanding the linguistic representations of heart and spirit.
Cultural Anthropology and Symbolism:
Douglas, Mary. "Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo." Routledge. Douglas's work provides insights into cultural symbolism, which is essential for understanding how the heart and spirit are symbolized in different cultures.
Phraseology in Cross-Cultural Context:
Burger, Harald, et al. "Phraseology: An International Handbook of Contemporary Research." De Gruyter. This handbook gives a comprehensive overview of phraseological research across different languages, which is critical for the study.
Narrative Theory and Symbolism:
Bal, Mieke. "Narratology: Introduction to the Theory of Narrative." University of Toronto Press. Bal’s work provides foundational insights into narrative theory, which can be applied to understanding how narratives use heart and spirit symbolically.
Cross-Cultural Linguistic Studies:
Wierzbicka, Anna. "Understanding Cultures through Their Key Words: English, Russian, Polish, German, and Japanese." Oxford University Press. Wierzbicka’s work offers a cross-cultural perspective on key words and concepts, crucial for understanding the cultural nuances of heart and spirit in language.
Idiomatic Expressions and Cultural Identities:
Moon, Rosamund. "Fixed Expressions and Idioms in English: A Corpus-Based Approach." Oxford University Press. Moon’s research into idioms and fixed expressions provides valuable insights into the cultural underpinnings of language.
Historical Linguistics and Language Evolution:
Hock, Hans Henrich and Joseph, Brian D. "Language History, Language Change, and Language Relationship: An Introduction to Historical and Comparative Linguistics."
