Where there’s a proverb, there are many conceptual mappings

Abstract

This paper explores how metaphorical and metonymic mappings are recognised as part of proverbs’ meanings in Brazilian Portuguese. Six proverbs were analysed from the perspective of Conceptual Metaphor Theory. The underlying conceptual mappings of these proverbs were suggested and categorised into primary metaphorical, complex metaphorical, and metonymic. Two psycholinguistic tasks were conducted with 112 adults aiming at determining to what extent these mappings were identified as part of the proverbs’ meanings. Results suggest that underlying conceptual mappings were well identified and associated with the proverbs’ meanings. For some items, complex mappings generated lower identification rates as compared to primary and metonymic ones. Statistical differences in participants’ judgments were found when contrasting the three types of mappings. Our results support the idea that participants can identify conceptual mappings and associate them with their meanings in proverbs when prompted to do so. However, their judgments vary across different types of mappings.