A CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF THE SOURCE DOMAIN IN NOMINAL METAPHORS WITH ENGLISH VERBS OF LOCOMOTION

Abstract

The article discusses the metaphorization of English verbs denoting human locomotion. The study is based on the cognitive semantics approach to analyzing the meanings of linguistic units, which considers the relationships between experience, the conceptual system, and the semantic structure embodied in language. This approach opens up new heuristic possibilities, as it allows shifting the focus from the classification of meanings to the study of the mechanisms and models of meaning formation. The reconstruction and analysis of metaphorical models involve the application of tools from the conceptual metaphor theory and the semantics of lingual networks. It is argued that implicit nominal metaphor serves as the basis for verbal metaphor, where explicitly expressed semantic roles associated with the target domain are reinterpreted through associations with the features of implied semantic roles correlated with the source domain. In order to demonstrate the role of nominal metaphor in the formation of verbal metaphor, the authors analyze excerpts containing human locomotion verbs obtained from “The Economist” and “The New York Times”. The analysis identifies key source domains that demonstrate how nominal metaphors interact with verb structures to form comprehensive metaphorical models. It is shown that in the process of metaphor formation, parts of the implied meanings of verbs are generalized and then adapted to new conceptual contexts while retaining essential characteristics. This transformation forms the foundations of the metaphorical meaning of verbs, enriching their content and opening new pathways for interpretation. The analysis reveals that contemporary media discourse widely employs metaphors loaded with negative evaluative associations related to the psychophysiological and biomechanical characteristics of a person moving through space. The most recurrent metaphorical models include deviations from the natural order, anxiety, aggressiveness, unprofessionalism, and irresponsibility of politicians.