Donkey Metaphors in the Oral Culture of Cyprus
Donkey Metaphors in the Oral Culture of Cyprus

Summary/Abstract: Within the framework of the ecological paradigm, stereotypes in collective folk consciousness focus on identifying human behaviors and beliefs toward animals. The gradual shift of anthropocentric data toward an eco-centric perspective over an extended course of time reflects the growing influence of zoo-folkloristic approaches. The domestication of donkeys six thousand years ago established a relationship primarily based on economy and transportation. However, the value attributed to them declined with the invention of motor vehicles. Despite this, donkeys are frequently encountered in various metaphorical uses within the oral culture. This study investigates the metaphorical representations of donkeys in oral traditions. The fact that donkeys still roam freely in Cyprus’s Karpaz region and attract tourists from many parts of the world further underscores the significance of this research. Donkey metaphors, which appear with notable frequency in the local oral linguistic expressions, serve as examples of both traditional and complex metaphors within the framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory classifications. It has been observed that representations of donkeys are shaped by their economic impact, their shared living practices with humans and their biological characteristics. In cognitive mappings, donkeys are predominantly associated with negative concepts; they are objectified and used to convey inferiority, expressions of anger, emotional mockery, othering and humiliation. Notable behaviors of the wild donkeys in Karpaz – such as opening water tanker valves with their mouths or digging into the ground to find water – suggest the need to question these negative attributions.

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