CONCEPTUALIZATION OF BODY PART IDIOMS IN IGBO AND CHINESE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Idiomatic expressions are those expressions that a speaker cannot ‘work out’ simply by knowing the grammar and the vocabulary of a language. This study examines the conceptual basis of body part idioms in Igbo and Chinese languages. The study seeks to establish the extent to which certain variations in conceptual values by the speakers of the two languages assist in structuring their creation and use of body parts idioms. Data is collated through secondary sources and researcher’s intuition. The analysis is carried out using the conceptual metaphor theory. The findings show that there are similarities and differences in the conceptual nature of Chinese language and Igbo language which are based on universal embodiment structure and socio-cultural peculiarities. The study recommends that second language learners of the two languages should employ the findings of this work and other comparative studies for easy understanding.