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Proverbs within Cognitive Linguistics: State of the art
Edited by Sadia Belkhir
[Cognitive Linguistic Studies in Cultural Contexts 16] 2024
► pp. 230–257

Chapter 9
The role of Persian proverbs in framing Iran’s nuclear program

A cognitive linguistic approach

| Ferdowsi University of Mashhad , Iran

This chapter explores how Persian proverbial metaphors are used in discourse to frame Iran’s nuclear program. To that end, contextual uses of a sample of Persian proverbs were analysed in terms of Conceptual Metaphor Theory. The results demonstrate that proverbs’ scope of operation goes way beyond their conventional functions. They are used to propagate pessimism, express sarcasm, make accusations, threaten and humiliate the rival camp, fabricate a new political reality, and manipulate the content and courses of action. The research also finds that proverbs are apt tools for framing complex socio-political issues, as they encapsulate a bundle of integrated figurative conceptualisations, providing users with ready-to-use conceptual slots to apply to complex scenarios with multiple roles and relations. Finally yet importantly, the research shows that the analysis of proverbs in discourse context provides a more comprehensive view of proverbs by completing the chain of association between the specific-level schema, generic-level schema and the immediate context of use.

Keywords: Iranian culture, Persian proverbs, Iran’s nuclear deal, Iran’s nuclear program, metaphor, metonymy, framing
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Proverbs in Cognitive Linguistics
  • 3.Method
  • 4.Data analysis
    • 4.1Proverbs supporting the deal
      • 4.1.1Warning of consequences
        • 4.1.1.1Shâhnâmeh âxaresh xosheh
        • 4.1.1.2Salâh e mamlekat e xish xosrovân dânand
      • 4.1.2Ingratitude
        • 4.1.2.1Xar che dânad qeymat e noql va nabât
      • 4.1.3Revelation of truth
        • 4.1.3.1Mâh posht e abr nemimânad
      • 4.1.4Unnecessary trouble
        • 4.1.4.1Sari ke dard nemikonad dastmâl nemibandand
    • 4.2Proverbs opposing the nuclear deal
      • 4.2.1Harm and malice
        • 4.2.1.1Châhkan hamisheh tah e châh ast
        • 4.2.1.2Tobeye gorg marg ast
        • 4.2.1.3Sag e zard barâdar e shoqâl ast
      • 4.2.2Unwise methods
        • 4.2.2.1Bâr e kaj be manzel nemiresad
      • 4.2.3Recurring wrong acts
        • 4.2.3.1Âdam e âqel az yek surâx dobâr gazideh nemishavad
      • 4.2.4Clumsiness/inability
        • 4.2.4.1Mush tu surâx nemiraft jâru be domesh mibast
      • 4.2.5Empty promises
        • 4.2.5.1Bozak namir bahâr miyâd kombozeh bâ xiyâr miyâd
      • 4.2.6Lauding one’s own accomplishments
        • 4.2.6.1Hich mâstbandi nemigeh mâstam torsheh
      • 4.2.7Utmost adversity
        • 4.2.7.1Bâlâtar az siyâhi rangi nist
      • 4.2.8Cunning and greed
        • 4.2.8.1Salâm e gorg bi tama’ nist
      • 4.2.9Fairness
        • 4.2.9.1Ye suzan be xodet bezan ye jovâlduz be mardom
      • 4.2.10Unfulfillable wishes
        • 4.2.10.1Shotor dar xâb binad panbeh dâneh
  • 5.Findings and conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
  • Appendix
Published online: 30 May 2024
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/clscc.16.09bak
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