Idioms as Gateways to Emotional Expressions of Sadness and Joy in French
Abstract
This study explores the metaphorical and metonymical expressions of sadness and joy in French idiomatic expressions, collected from various media sources and YouTube channels. Using a qualitative research design, it applies the Extended Conceptual Metaphor Theory to analyze how these emotions are conceptualized through image schemas, domains, and mental spaces. A type-based approach is used to categorize the source domains underlying these metaphors. Metaphors were identified using the Metaphor Identification Procedure, while conceptual metaphor extraction followed a structured approach. Inter-rater reliability measures ensured the objectivity of the analysis. The findings reveal that French idioms conceptualize sadness through metaphors such as having an unwelcome insect (cockroach), grinding black thoughts, and having one’s spirits in one’s socks, whereas joy is expressed as being elevated with spiritual undertones and infused with vibrant colours like pink. Metonymies were also found where physiological, metaphorical, and expressive responses stand for emotions, as seen in Je ne suis pas dans mon assiette, Mon cœur saute, and Je pleure de joie. Comparative analysis with English, Chinese, and Japanese shows both universal patterns, such as sadness as bad taste and happiness as up, and culture-specific variations in emotional conceptualization. The study contributes to cognitive linguistics and cross-cultural metaphor research, demonstrating how language, culture, and cognition interact in shaping emotional expressions and providing insights for language learning and intercultural communication.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ashraf Allawama, Aseel Zibin, Abdel Rahman Altakhaineh
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