The aim of this article is to discuss the semantic and etymological journey of 3 lexical items, that is "box", "coffin" and "casket" in the context of death related metaphors. It is also to study the linguistic productivity of the terms in question.
Table of Contents
1. How did Jack get in the “box”; on the container metaphor in the macrocategory of death. The case study of box, coffin and casket.
Objectives and Topics
The work examines the etymology and semantic development of the lexemes "box", "coffin", and "casket" within the context of the CONTAINER metaphor, specifically focusing on their association with death and their evolution into diverse slang and idiomatic expressions across various social spheres.
- Etymological analysis of burial-related container terms.
- Exploration of the CONTAINER metaphor within the macrocategory of death.
- Semantic shifts from neutral/positive meanings to negative/pejorative connotations.
- Cross-linguistic comparison and the role of euphemism in handling taboos.
- Productivity of death-related vocabulary in everyday language and slang.
Excerpt from the Book
The 17th century saw the popularization of extravagant and ornamented metal coffins some of which had small glass windows (c.f. Kerrigan 2009). The bodies of rich individuals were dressed in the most impressive raiment and placed in a custom-made coffin. The front was occupied by an oil simulacrum of the deceased that was frequently painted on a silver, copper or tin slab. After the burial procedures came to an end, the coffin portrait was hung on the wall of the church or the family chapel. The coffin was then transported to the church, where a monumental catafalque was awaiting. The place was usually decorated with the so-called ‘castrum doloris’, where numerous attributes of death were placed, including human skeletons with bat wings or skulls (c.f. Kerrigan 2009).
The advent of the 21st century saw an immense revolution in the way death and dying was perceived (Aries 2007). Apart from the obvious marketing and proliferation of entertainment value that death brings (action films, games and literature) there was also a growing social acceptance towards the subject in question. Likewise, the funeral industry saw its fair share of revolution, with coffin manufacturers trying extremely hard to satisfy the most demanding clientele.
Summary of Chapters
1. How did Jack get in the “box”; on the container metaphor in the macrocategory of death. The case study of box, coffin and casket.: This chapter provides a comprehensive historical and semantic analysis of the terms "box", "casket", and "coffin", tracing their etymological origins and their subsequent metaphorical expansion into various social and linguistic domains.
Keywords
Container metaphor, Coffin, Casket, Box, Etymology, Semantic change, Death, Euphemism, Slang, Pejoration, Metaphorical expression, Funeral industry, Taboo, Linguistic evolution, Lexeme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this study?
The study focuses on the etymological background and the semantic evolution of the terms "box", "coffin", and "casket" within the English language, specifically looking at how they function as metaphors for death.
What are the primary themes of the paper?
The primary themes include linguistic semantic change, the development of the CONTAINER metaphor, the use of euphemisms for death-related concepts, and the proliferation of these terms in slang and idiomatic usage.
What is the main research goal?
The main goal is to analyze how these specific "container" lexemes have transitioned from neutral usage to being deeply embedded in cultural and linguistic associations with mortality, often acquiring pejorative or slang meanings over time.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author employs a diachronic linguistic approach, utilizing etymological dictionaries and historical quotations to trace the semantic progression of the chosen lexemes across centuries.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body details the individual etymological journeys of "box", "casket", and "coffin", provides graphical representations of their semantic stages, and categorizes the varied metaphorical uses of "coffin" (e.g., as a dwelling or hotel).
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include CONTAINER metaphor, etymology, semantic change, death-related lexemes, euphemism, and slang.
How does the author define the CONTAINER metaphor for this work?
For the purpose of this paper, the author defines the category as an object used for storing, holding, or transporting something, extended to include any item serving as an enclosure for human remains.
What evidence does the author provide for the semantic drift of these terms?
The author provides numerous citations from the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and other sources, showing how the meanings of the terms shifted from general objects (like baskets or pie molds) to specific burial containers and eventually to slang expressions.
Does the paper include a cross-linguistic perspective?
Yes, the author notes parallels between English and Polish usage, particularly regarding how container imagery is humorously or pejoratively applied to inanimate objects like automobiles.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding language and death?
The author concludes that because death is a social taboo, language users constantly employ mechanisms like euphemisms and metaphorical extensions to soften or conceal the reality of dying, leading to a rich and productive expansion of the vocabulary.
- Quote paper
- MA Paweł Migut (Author), 2014, How did Jack get in the "box"? On the container metaphor in the macrocategory of death, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/278311
