The The Conceptual Metaphorical Extension of the Verb ‘나다’ A Comparative Case of Expressing Anger : 화가 나다 and 열을 받다

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the metaphorical meaning of the verb "나다" when combined with the metaphors "Fire" and "Heat," especially in the context of expressing anger, to understand the process of emotional perception and expression in Korean. The use of the verb "나다" in Korean illustrates an expansion of meaning connected to both physical and emotional experiences, such as internal occurrences and external expressions through conceptual metaphors.  The metaphors are used to explain the emergence of emotions, such as anger, which is conceptualized as a liquid contained within the body or mind and may overflow when triggered by external factors. The expressions "화가 나다" (hwa-ga na-da) and "열을 받다" (yeol-eul bat-da) reflect the distinction in expressing anger in the Korean cultural context, differentiating the internal process of emotion and the external stimuli that provoke it.

Additionally, this study demonstrated the role of metaphor theory in cognitive linguistics, which helps to understand how language reflects human thought and experience in terms of emotional perception and expression through various metaphorical forms. For example, container metaphors and image schemas are used to explain the understanding of anger through comparisons to fire and heat. Furthermore, this study provided insight into the perception of emotions in different languages and the connection between language expression and the social, cultural, and psychological experiences of Korean speakers.