THE CONCEPTUAL METAPHORS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIFE MEANING IN THE FACE OF DEATH IN SOO DI WA

Abstract

In the context of severe illness and the are likely to advanced use of collocation, human beings must restructure their understanding of life to respond to existential crises. However, most previous studies have predominantly examined this experience through psychological or literary lenses, leaving a gap in research regarding the role of conceptual metaphors as cognitive mechanisms for constructing the meaning of life. This qualitative research aims to investigate The Conceptual Metaphor used in The book Soo Di Wa discourse analysis informer within The frame by Conceptual Metaphor Theory. The study illuminates the relationship between language, cognition, and the construction of life’s meaning when facing death. The findings reveal that the book prominently features key conceptual metaphors, including “Illness is War,” “Hope is Power,” “Time is a Resource,” and “Acceptance is Peace.” These metaphors serve as cognitive frameworks that organize the understanding of illness, suffering, and death through familiar human experiences. Furthermore, they reflect a worldview that perceives life as a battle, a finite opportunity, and an entity that retains its value even amidst profound suffering. In conclusion, Conceptual metaphors function not merely as linguistic devices to communicate experiences, but as vital mechanisms that shape thought, perception, and the construction of life’s meaning under the conditions of illness, pain and mortality. This research contributes to the expansion of knowledge in conceptual metaphor and discourse studies by highlighting the profound role of language in shaping human worldviews and existential understanding.