Cognitive image schemas the concept of heart and eyes in Kurdish poetry (Mehavi as an example

Hameed, Hersh Karim

doi:10.32894/1992-1179.2025.156982.1126

	Cognitive image schemas the concept of heart and eyes in Kurdish poetry (Mehavi as an example
Kirkuk University Journal: Humanity Studies
Volume 20, Issue 1, Part 3 - Serial Number 20, July 2025 PDF (1.33 M)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.32894/1992-1179.2025.156982.1126
Author
Hersh karim hameed^*
اقلیم کردستان/ وەزارەتی پەروەردە
Abstract
One of the fundamental components of cognitive semantics is the use of image schemas, a concept introduced by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson. Image schemas aim to conceptualize abstract and mental notions through embodied experience, reflecting the interaction between language, cognition, and physical and social reality. Among the most prominent types of image schemas are the container, path, and force schemas. This study adopts a cognitive-analytical approach to examine the metaphorical usage of two key human organs—the eye and the heart—in the poetry of the renowned classical Kurdish poet, Mahwi. Through these bodily references, Mahwi constructs profound cognitive and spiritual meanings. The findings reveal that Mahwi frequently employs the container schema, portraying the eye and heart as vessels that preserve human emotions such as hope, anxiety, longing, and sorrow. Simultaneously, he utilizes the path schema to illustrate the dynamic relationship between the lover and the beloved, framing the eye and heart as channels for mutual emotional movement. Additionally, the force schema is applied metaphorically to express the poet’s experience with struggle, pain, and internal resistance. Through these image schemas, Mahwi succeeds in crafting rich poetic imagery that connects physical embodiment with abstract cognition
Keywords
Cognitive semantics; image schema force; image schema container; image schema path; Mahavi

Statistics Article View: 203 PDF Download: 65