Conventionalized Metaphors in Jordanian Colloquial Arabic: Case Study: Metaphors on Body Parts

Abstract

Jordanian colloquial Arabic is rich with conventionalized metaphorical expressions. Indeed, these expressions make a high percentage in the daily speech of Jordanians. Though these expressions are metaphorically structured, their metaphorical sense has been lost for their wide literal use. This study aims at bringing an analysis to metaphors of body parts, which have become routinely used expressions in Jordanian colloquial Arabic. In addition, the study explores the impact of such metaphors on the effectiveness of social communication. The study is based on Lakoff and Johnson's view of metaphor as part of everyday speech. Lakoff and Johnson reveal that metaphors are part of our everyday speech. In fact, conventionalized metaphors are metaphors that have become part of our conventional knowledge of Arabic.