Affiliation:
1. Instituto de Investigaciones Filológicas , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Ciudad de Mexico , Mexico
2. Department of Psychology , University of York , York , UK
Abstract
Abstract
Previous studies claim there are few olfactory metaphors cross-linguistically, especially compared to metaphors originating in the visual and auditory domains. We show olfaction can be a source for metaphor and metonymy in a lesser-described language that has rich lexical resources for talking about odors. In Seri, an isolate language of Mexico spoken by indigenous hunter-gatherers, we find a novel metaphor for emotion never previously described – “anger stinks”. In addition, distinct odor verbs are used metaphorically to distinguish volitional vs. non-volitional states-of-affairs. Finally, there is ample olfactory metonymy in Seri, especially prevalent in names for plants, but also found in names for insects and artifacts. This calls for a re-examination of better-known languages for the overlooked role olfaction may play in metaphor and metonymy. The Seri language illustrates how valuable data from understudied languages can be in highlighting novel ways by which people conceptualize themselves and their world.
Subject
Linguistics and Language,Developmental and Educational Psychology,Language and Linguistics
Reference76 articles.
1. Alaoui-Ismaili, O., O. Robin, H. Rada, A. Dittmar & E. Vernet-Maury. 1997. Basic emotions evoked by odorants: Comparison between autonomic responses and self-evaluation. Physiology & Behavior 62(4). 713–720.
2. Anderson, Wendy. 2019. Perception metaphor in English: A bird's-eye view. In Laura J. Speed, Carolyn O'Meara, Lila San Roque & Asifa Majid (eds.), Perception metaphors, 65–83. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
3. Anderson, Wendy & Ellen Bramwell. 2014. A metaphorical spectrum: Surveying colour terms in English. In Wendy Anderson, Carole P. Biggam, Carole Hough & Christian Kay (eds.), Colour studies: A broad spectrum, 140–152. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
4. Aschmann, Herman P. 1946. Totonac categories of smell. Tlalocan 2. 187–189.
5. Baerman, Matthew. 2016. Seri verb classes: Morphosyntactic motivation and morphological autonomy. Language 92(4). 792–823.
Cited by
14 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献