Conceptual Metaphor in Pashto: A Cognitive Linguistic Analysis

Abstract

This study introduces the theory of conceptual metaphor within the framework of Cognitive Linguistics and demonstrates its applicability to Pashto textual analysis. Conceptual metaphor, originally formulated by Lakoff and Johnson (1980). It has become a central research domain in contemporary cognitive linguistics, emphasizing that metaphor functions not merely as a stylistic or literary device but as a fundamental mechanism of human conceptualization. Employing a descriptive, library-based methodology grounded in the analytical interpretation of foundational and recent scholarly sources, the study aims to present a systematic account of conceptual metaphor in Pashto and to examine its realizations in authentic Pashto texts examineto. The analysis proceeds through the core components of the theory-namely, the source domain and target domain-to reveal that conceptual metaphors are pervasive across both poetic and prose contexts in Pashto and play a significant role in structuring everyday linguistic and cognitive experience. The findings show that the cognitive-linguistic model provides a precise and effective framework for explaining metaphorical patterns in Pashto.