Animal Elements on Japanese Kotowaza and the Implementation of Japanese Socio-Cultural Values: A Cognitive Linguistics Point of View

Abstract

This study aims to describe the relationship between the lexical meaning and the idiomatic meaning contained in the Japanese kotowaza and to analyze the level of relevance of each kotowaza to the application of socio-cultural values in Japanese society. This type of research is qualitative descriptive research to describe the meaning of kotowaza through cognitive linguistic studies and conceptual metaphor theory. The data source is a Japanese novel contained in Aozora Bunka. This study found that the animal elements contained in the kotowaza are a conceptualization of attitudes, actions, judgments, circumstances, and feelings. In addition, the city also reflects socio-cultural values that are very relevant to the culture of Japanese society, such as the culture of working hard, being responsible, and being focused and conscientious.

Animal Conceptual Metaphors in Kotowaza: A Cognitive Linguistic Study

“…The findings of the study indicate that synecdoche can be employed as a means of examining the relationship between lexical meaning and proverbs that convey comprehensive or specific meanings, such as kotowaza pertaining to geographical attributes or numerical values. Mafrukha et al (2021) undertook a study with the objective of elucidating the correlation between lexical meaning and idiomatic meaning in kotowaza, while also examining their significance in the context of sociocultural values within Japanese culture. The study employs a qualitative descriptive research methodology to elucidate the significance of kotowaza by utilizing a cognitive linguistic approach and conceptual metaphor theory.…”

“…An illustration of an endeavor to gain a comprehensive understanding of kotowaza can be observed in the research undertaken by Yohani (2015Yohani ( , 2016Yohani ( , and 2017 and Mafrukha, et al (2021). In his analysis, Yohani employs a cognitive linguistic framework to examine the semantic significance of kotowaza and establish its associations with metaphor, synecdoche, and metonymy.…”

“…In their analysis of kotowaza, Mafrukha et al direct their attention towards conceptual metaphor theory. Mafrukha et al (2021) conducted a study wherein they identified a range of animal species present in kotowaza, such as mice, horses, bees, storks, chickens, and dogs. The animals in question assumed symbolic significance, serving as representations of specific characters that were subsequently employed by the Japanese to communicate particular messages.…”