EMBODIMENT IN SHAPING PERCEPTION-RELATED METAPHORS

Abstract

Metaphors are not simply linguistic ornaments but cognitive instruments that reflect our embodied experiences. Recent research in cognitive linguistics underscores the role of the human body as central to how perception and experience shape metaphorical thought. This article explores the concept of embodiment within perception-related metaphors, drawing on both Western scholarship and works by Uzbek linguists to demonstrate how culture-specific experiences interact with universal bodily schemas. Through a synthesis of empirical data and analyses from previous studies, this paper illustrates that perception-related metaphors – particularly those involving sight, taste, touch, smell, and hearing – are deeply rooted in bodily experiences and cultural contexts. The findings shed new light on the universality and variation in metaphorical mappings, revealing the profound interplay between cultural norms, embodied cognition, and the linguistic encoding of perception.