Semantic Field of Negative Personality Traits in English and Spanish Phraseology

Authors:

Pages: 429-441
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/QUFD9361

Abstract:

Semantic field is a set of expressions sharing a certain semantic feature and thus related in meaning or theme. This research employs a contrastive approach to examine the semantic field of negative personality traits in 53 English and 70 Spanish idioms obtained from dictionaries. It reveals differences in the frequency and distribution of traits across semantic subfields, with unintelligence as most frequent, along with malice and laziness in Spanish, and boastfulness in English. Unintelligence overlaps across different subfields in both languages, suggesting different cultural conceptualizations of the trait. Both languages link negative traits to animals and body parts through metaphor and metonymy, yet differ in their mapping, reflecting culturally shaped conceptualizations of traits. The results yield a deeper understanding of these idioms though further research is needed.

Keywords:

semantic field, negative personality traits, English and Spanish phraseology, idioms, idiomatic expressions

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