Document Type : Original Article
Author
ARAKU
Abstract
Conceptual Blending Theory posits that meaning in language emerges from the fluid integration of two or more conceptual domains within a blended space. Borujerdi proverbs—concise, image-rich expressions rooted in the region’s agrarian and pastoral culture—offer a particularly fertile ground for analysis through this lens. This study aims to elucidate the meaning-construction processes in Borujerdi proverbs using the conceptual blending framework. Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology grounded in library research, we examined a corpus of 25 proverbs related to agricultural traditions drawn from both written and oral sources. The research question is: “According to Conceptual Blending Theory, how is meaning constructed in Borujerdi proverbs?” Findings indicate a recurrent three-stage process: composition (initial merger of two input spaces), completion (enrichment via cultural background knowledge and lived experience), and elaboration (extraction of emergent meaning within the blended space). These stages faithfully represent the cognitive and metaphorical mechanisms at work, conveying ethical, economic, and forward-looking messages succinctly and powerfully. The study underscores the analytical utility of Conceptual Blending Theory for investigating folk language and cultural memory, and recommends its application in comparative studies across other dialects and fields of cultural research.
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