Spatial Orientation in Persian Language

One of the most important issues in cognitive linguistics is Spatial Orientation. Languages use sources such as human body (body-part), landmarks, dynamic concept (typically motion verbs like come, go, etc.) and cardinal direction to conceptualize spatial and geographic directions. Every language uses the whole or some of these sources based on its historical and cultural issues. The present study sought to consider the features and sources of Spatial orientation in Persian language based on of Heine’s (1997) theory. The results of the study indicated that Persian language employs human body and animal body (anthropomorphic and zoomorphic model) as the main source of conceptualization, since the bodily experience in space serves as the basis for the majority of metaphorical expressions. The next source was Landmarks (environment – specific features) such as rivers, mountains and rocky places, sea and trees and other related properties. The third and final sources were motion and cardinal directions respectively