Metaphorical conceptualization of happiness in Wolaita

Abstract

The present study is an analysis of the metaphorical conceptualization of happiness based on conceptual metaphor theory and a qualitative research methodology. It described the metaphorical linguistic expressions used to determine the conceptual structure and organization of the emotional concept of happiness in Wolaita. Our findings show that the domains of fluid, heat, light, insanity, opponent, food, natural force, moveable object, and musical instrument conceptualize happiness in Wolaita. Its resulting conceptual metaphors are HAPPINESS IS FLUID IN A CONTAINER, HAPPINESS IS HEAT, HAPPINESS IS LIGHT, HAPPINESS IS OPPONENT, HAPPINESS IS MOVABLE OBJECT, HAPPINESS IS INSANITY, HAPPINESS IS FOOD, and HAPPINESS IS A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT that offer valuable insights into its universal and idiosyncratic conceptualization.

Keywords

• Conceptual metaphor
• domain
• happiness
• metaphor
• Wolaita
• Jeroen van de Weijer, Shenzhen University, China