مؤسسة الشرق الأوسط للنشر العلمي
عادةً ما يتم الرد في غضون خمس دقائق
This study investigates the conceptual metaphors of light and darkness in Iraqi proverbs within the framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory as proposed by Lakoff and Johnson (2003). The research adopts a qualitative descriptive-analytical approach to examine how abstract concepts are structured through embodied and culturally grounded metaphorical mappings in Iraqi folk discourse. The data consists of eight widely used Iraqi proverbs that explicitly or implicitly employ the imagery of light and darkness. The analysis focuses on identifying the source and target domains of each proverb, classifying the types of conceptual metaphors and uncovering the underlying cognitive patterns that shape meaning construction. The findings reveal that Iraqi proverbs consistently rely on a fundamental binary opposition between light and darkness, reflecting deeply entrenched cognitive schemas. The dominant conceptual metaphors identified include GOOD IS LIGHT, BAD IS DARKNESS, KNOWLEDGE IS LIGHT and IGNORANCE IS DARKNESS. These metaphors function as primary and universal patterns while also exhibiting culture-specific nuances influenced by the Iraqi socio-cultural and experiential context. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that metaphorical expressions in these proverbs are not merely stylistic devices but serve significant pragmatic and communicative functions such as moral instruction, social evaluation and the reinforcement of collective values. The recurrent use of light and darkness imagery enhances the persuasive and mnemonic power of proverbs, making them effective tools for transmitting cultural knowledge across generations.