Metaphorization of Nouns as a Semantic and Cognitive Process

Annotatsiya

hierarchies. Human-related nouns transferred to non-human domains: Mother tongue Father of modern physics The birth of an idea Such metaphors humanize abstract or inanimate phenomena. Animal nouns applied to humans: Vol. 6, No. 4 – Special Issue (EJAR) 333 ISSN: 2181-2020 INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE ON “INDIRECT TRANSLATION: A TWO-ARCHED BRIDGE BETWEEN CULTURES” TASHKENT, APRIL 15-17, 2026 Fox (cunning person) Snake (treacherous person) Tiger (strong, aggressive person) These metaphors reflect cultural symbolism. Objects used metaphorically: Shield of faith Engine of growth Tool of communication Here, artifacts structure abstract relationships. Nature-related nouns extended to abstract domains: Storm of protest Wave of migration Flood of emotions Metaphorization of nouns reflects how speakers conceptualize reality. Cultural values influence metaphor selection. For example, animals symbolizing intelligence or strength differ across cultures. Therefore, metaphorized nouns reveal national worldview and collective experience. From a cognitive perspective, nouns serve as conceptual anchors. Their metaphorical extension enables categorization of abstract domains in terms of concrete experience. Metaphorization of nouns is a fundamental semantic and cognitive process that contributes significantly to lexical expansion and conceptual structuring. Through similarity of form, function, quality, or position, nouns acquire new meanings and develop polysemous structu