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Part of
Language Endangerment: Disappearing metaphors and shifting conceptualizations
Edited by Elisabeth Piirainen and Ari Sherris
[Cognitive Linguistic Studies in Cultural Contexts 7] 2015
► pp. 137–154

7. Idioms and proverbs in Bete language and culture

a metaphorical analysis of their aetiology, meaning and usage

Metrics on language vitality indicate that Bété is an endangered language (UNESCO, 2014). The documentation of Bété proverbs and idioms will potentially generate renewed interest in the richness of the language and culture. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss Bété proverbs and idioms as reflections of universal language structures that embody affordances of specific information germane to the environment and experience of remaining Bété speakers. To accomplish this, the chapter explores relationships among Bété idioms, cognition, and imagery.

Keywords: Bété, endangered language, figurative language, idioms, idiosyncrasy, language functions, metaphor, poetic language, proverbs, worldview
Published online: 14 October 2015
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https://doi.org/10.1075/clscc.7.06zou
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