| Abstract [eng] |
The role of the German position verbs stehen (to stand), liegen (to lie) and sitzen (to sit) in creating linguistic metaphors is analysed in the article. It is sought to define the main metaphorical mappings form the concrete source domain PLACE IN SPACE to the more abstract target domains. Conceptual metahors are provided a special concern the basis of which is a concrete orientation experience in space. The conclusion might be drawn that standing and lying things are most frequently conceived as quantity units in the German language (number, price, quota, average stands/ lies). Different actions and linguistic units are conceptualized as standing things, by attributing a vertical feature to them, e.g. a meeting, conflict, world championship, fight “stands” in the first place; a language, reading, writing, a question, an answer “stands”. The verb to sit is rarely used metaphorically. Only living beings can have such a position; this kind of ability is attributed to abstract things, too. It is often spoken about negative feelings (literally from German – sitting, squatting), e.g. fear, anger, shock, bitterness sits somewhere deeply. |
