Conceptual Metaphors in the Pentateuch Texts of English Bible (New King James Version)

Abstract

The research study explored the Pentateuch texts to elicit conceptual metaphors that allow understanding of metaphysical (sacred) reality, and to characterize essential for its conceptualization cognitive structures. The analysis of the consistent patterns of metaphorical expansion from source-domain physical reality onto target-domain metaphysical reality of the Pentateuch was carried out within the framework of theolinguistics. It has revealed that onto transcendental (sacred) reality are metaphorically mapped as source domains: 1) tri-dimensional space (verticality, centre-periphery, distance, place, object, container, etc.); 2) human (physical, physiological, psychological features); 3) human interpersonal relationships (family relationships, social roles, status, authority, etc.). It has been proven that understanding of metaphysical reality is framed by the following conceptual metaphors: GOD’S STATUS IS UP, GOD IS OBJECT, BOWING DOWN IS BEING SUBJECT TO CONTROL, BOWING DOWN IS DOWN, BLESSING IS UP, STATUS IS UP, LAW STATUS IS DOWN, IMPORTANCE IS PRECEDENCE, THE TREE OF LIFE / THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE ARE CENTRAL / IMPORTANT, LEARNING IS EATING THE FRUIT, CROSS IS CENTRAL/IMPORTANT, GOD IS OUTSIDE TIME, GOD IS OUTSIDE CREATION, HOLINESS IS CLEANLINESS, CLEAN PEOPLE IS HOLY PEOPLE, HOLINESS IS PROXIMITY TO GOD, THE WORD OF GOD IS BREAD, ACCESSIBILITY TO GOD IS PROXIMITY, GOD’S COMMANDMENTS ARE CENTRAL, HEAVENS IS UP, HEAVENS IS THE PLACE, HEAVENS IS CONTAINER, ATONING BLOOD IS GIFT, GOD IS PERSON, GOD IS CREATOR, GOD IS KING, GOD IS FATHER, GOD IS JUDGE, GOD IS SHEPHERD, GOD IS THE MAN OF WAR, GOD IS HUSBAND OF HIS PEOPLE, GOD IS HELPER, GOD IS HEALER, GOD IS FRIEND, GOD IS THE LORD, GOD IS PROVIDER, GOD IS THE GUIDE, GOD IS THE SOJOURNER, COVENANT IS STRUCTURE, COVENANT IS OBJERCT, IDOLATRY IS ADULTERY, ANGEL IS PERSON, SINNING IS DEVIATING / SWIRLING FROM GOD’S WAY, GOD’S COMMENDMENDS ARE THE PATH, MORAL CHOICE IS CHOICE OF WAY, LEADING A MORAL LIFE IS MAKING A JOURNEY ON GOD’S WAY. The results indicated high relevance of theolinguistics, which adds a theological dimension to the investigation and secures the proper understanding of religious texts under investigation.

У статті розглядаються концептуальні метафори, які уможливлюють осмислення метафізичної (сакральної) реальності П’ятикнижжя; характеризуються важливі для її концептуалізації когнітивні структури. Закономірності метафоричної експансії зі сфери-джерела фізичної реальності на сферу-ціль метафізичної реальності аналізуються у рамках інтегративної теолінгвістичної дисципліни. Установлено, що метафоричне структурування сакральної реальності здійснюється шляхом метафоричної експансії зі сфери-джерела 1) тривимірний простір (вертикальність, центр-периферія, відстань, об'єкти тощо); 2) людина (фізичні, фізіологічні, психічні, душевні властивості); 3) міжособистісні відношення (сімейні стосунки, соціальні ролі тощо) на сферу-ціль – метафізичне / трансцендентне (Бог, Ангели). Виявлено, що розуміння метафізичної реальності структуровано наступними концептуальними метафорами: GOD’S STATUS IS UP, GOD IS OBJECT, BOWING DOWN IS BEING SUBJECT TO CONTROL, BOWING DOWN IS DOWN, BLESSING IS UP, STATUS IS UP, LAW STATUS IS DOWN, IMPORTANCE IS PRECEDENCE, THE TREE OF LIFE / THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE ARE CENTRAL / IMPORTANT, LEARNING IS EATING THE FRUIT, CROSS IS CENTRAL/IMPORTANT, GOD IS OUTSIDE TIME, GOD IS OUTSIDE CREATION, HOLINESS IS CLEANLINESS, CLEAN PEOPLE IS HOLY PEOPLE, HOLINESS IS PROXIMITY TO GOD, THE WORD OF GOD IS BREAD, ACCESSIBILITY TO GOD IS PROXIMITY, GOD’S COMMANDMENTS ARE CENTRAL, HEAVENS IS UP, HEAVENS IS THE PLACE, HEAVENS IS CONTAINER, ATONING BLOOD IS GIFT, GOD IS PERSON, GOD IS CREATOR, GOD IS KING, GOD IS FATHER, GOD IS JUDGE, GOD IS SHEPHERD, GOD IS THE MAN OF WAR, GOD IS HUSBAND OF HIS PEOPLE, GOD IS HELPER, GOD IS HEALER, GOD IS FRIEND, GOD IS THE LORD, GOD IS PROVIDER, GOD IS THE GUIDE, GOD IS THE SOJOURNER, COVENANT IS STRUCTURE, COVENANT IS OBJERCT, IDOLATRY IS ADULTERY, ANGEL IS PERSON, SINNING IS DEVIATING / SWIRLING FROM GOD’S WAY, GOD’S COMMENDMENDS ARE THE PATH, MORAL CHOICE IS CHOICE OF WAY, LEADING A MORAL LIFE IS MAKING A JOURNEY ON GOD’S WAY. Підтверджено ефективність застосування теолінгвістичного підходу для дослідження метафізичних реалій із перспективою розкриття глибинного розуміння всіх аспектів буття людини.