Metaphors in Betrayal in the City: a Cognitive Linguistics Approach

Abstract

This study presents the results of a Cognitive Linguistics approach to metaphors in Betrayal in the City. The study seeks to find out whether metaphors in the text are categorizable in terms of Imbuga??˜s conceptualization of life in the ??—City??˜. The study uses Contemporary Theory of Metaphor in the analysis of various metaphors in the text in terms of source and target domains. Most metaphors cannot be paraphrased in literal terms without loss to meaning; thus, a cross-domain mapping based on systematic correspondences between the source domain and target domain will be carried out. The study aims at determining Imbuga??˜s use of metaphors to reveal major and minor themes in the text. For the reader or hearer to understand the meaning of the metaphor in the text, he/she must understand the attributes of the source domain that are mapped onto the target domain. The metaphors can only be experienced and understood in terms of the domains. The study found out that Imbuga has used plant, food, body parts, animals and disease as source domains. Each of the domains is expressed depending on the theme it is highlighting. Food metaphors are used to reveal greed in the ruling regime. Body parts reveal the injustices heaped onto the citizens by the president of the independent state together with his unflinching aides. Disease metaphors reveal the disillusionment that has resulted from series of betrayals in the state of Kafira.