The Role of Conceptual Blending in Constructing the Meaning of Arabic Proverbs: A Case Study of Animal Proverbs

The present study examines some Arabic Animal proverbs based on the Conceptual Blending Theory of Fauconnier and Turner (2002) in the framework of cognitive semantics. Anderson's (2013) Cognitive Proverb Model claims that proverb meaning is the result of a number of conceptual blending through which base meaning and then situational and performance meanings are constructed. Anderson's model can justify the presence of linguistic, cultural, social and situational elements in proverbs. In this research, six Arabic Animal proverbs have been selected and analyzed according to Anderson (2013) Model through a descriptive-analytic research method. The results show that the meanings of education, sermon, decree, etc. are the result of three blending processes. In the beginning, ANIMAL-HUMAN spaces are combined and through the metaphorical relationship of HUMAN AS ANIMAL, the first blended space, containing basic meaning is formed. This output is combined with the external situation space and makes the second blend involving situational meaning. Finally, the complete meaning of the proverb is created as an action in the relevant situations.