Metaphorical Conceptualizations of Love in the Amharic azɨmari Lyrics

Abstract

This paper examine the Metaphorical Conceptualizations of Love in the Amharic minstrels ( the Amharic equivalent is azɨmari, hereafter I will use azɨmari for singular and azɨmariwotʃ for plural) Lyrics. In order to carry out this research, descriptive qualitative research methodology has been employed. A total number of 48 songs and 16 printed documents (from all over the Amharic speech community and available sources) have been collected. In sum, more than 2000 stanzas have been collected from both audio cassettes and written documents. However, lyrics with explicit and offensive references to sex or bodily functions and unpleasant stanzas; the portrayal of women in a very degrading way; racial and disgraced of one nation stanzas, and repeated stanzas have been removed. Consequently, 1180 stanzas were selected for the analysis. By doing this, metaphorical conceptualized lyrics are found and phonetically transcribed using IPA. According to the Leipzig Glossing Rules, the data were presented in interlinear morpheme-by-morpheme in three lines. The Metaphorical Conceptualization of Love is thoroughly discussed in the data analysis. The azɨmari metaphorically conceptualize Love as an Opponent, a unity, valuable commodity, Captive animal, Fire, Rapture, and Container. In-depth research on the semantics and pragmatics of azɨmari lyrics in other Ethiopian languages is called for by this study. Furthermore, there is a need for more interdisciplinary research into the applied elements of linguistics.

Key words:  Amharic, metaphor, love, azɨmari

DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/103-03

Publication date: September 30th 2024