Metaphors on the depiction of medicine diseases and food- related nouns in Tshivenḓa

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to investigate how metaphors are used in Tshivenḓa to depict medicine, diseases, and food-related nouns, and to explain the meanings thereof and cultural beliefs embedded in these metaphorical expressions. The study aims to demonstrate that language is not merely a means of communication, but also a reflection of the Vhavenḓa people's worldview, traditional knowledge, and conceptual understanding of health, illness, healing, and nutrition. This article employed a qualitative research methodology grounded in Cognitive Metaphor Theory (CMT), developed by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson. The theory explains how people understand abstract concepts through metaphorical mappings from familiar experiences. This research article used a descriptive and interpretive approach to analyse metaphorical expressions in Tshivenḓa. Data were collected from: - everyday spoken Tshivenḓa, - traditional sayings and idiomatic expressions, - oral narratives and cultural discourse, and - existing literature on Tshivenḓa language and Vhavenḓa culture in South Africa. Contribution of the Study: This article makes several important contributions to the fields of Linguistics, Cognitive Linguistics, and African Language Studies.