Chapter 8
Lexicon
Assignment 6
Describe the metaphors being used in the following signs.
a.
DGS ‘disappoint’
b.
Polish SL ‘fail’
c.
TID ‘die’
d.
ASL ‘admire’
| DGS: | disappoint: downward movement motivated by the metaphor NEGATIVE IS DOWN. |
| PolishSL: | fail: it could be argued that the downward movement on the left hand is also motivated by NEGATIVE IS DOWN. However, the right hand moves up, which does not fit the metaphor; so the metaphorical motivation is less clear. Maybe another metaphor can be held responsible for the opposing movement of the two hands? |
| TİD: | die: Legs-classifier handshape is turned over. Lakoff & Johnson (1980) propose the orientational metaphor SICKNESS AND DEATH ARE DOWN (as in English ‘He fell ill’ or ‘He dropped dead’), and the shape of the sign most certainly represents a person falling. |
| ASL: | admire: Movement is most probably motivated by another orientational metaphor, namely POWER / HIGH STATUS IS UP. Since the sign involves handshapes also found in see, the metaphorical motivation is reminiscent of English ‘to look up to’. |