METAPHORES A CHEVAL : REFLETS CULTURELS DANS LES EXPRESSIONS METAPHORIQUES ET IDIOMATIQUES EN FRANÇAIS ET EN ROUMAIN
METAPHORES A CHEVAL : REFLETS CULTURELS DANS LES EXPRESSIONS METAPHORIQUES ET IDIOMATIQUES EN FRANÇAIS ET EN ROUMAIN

Summary/Abstract: This study offers a contrastive analysis of metaphorical and idiomatic expressions involving the word horse (cheval / cal) in French and Romanian, with the aim of identifying the cultural values, historical references, and conceptual metaphors underlying these expressions. Drawing on the theoretical framework of cognitive linguistic and cultural linguistics, the paper explores how the horse, a historically significant animal in both French and Romanian societies, is embedded in the figurative language of the two languages. Through a corpus of selected idioms and metaphors, we examine the similarities and divergences in the symbolic use of the horse, focusing on domains such as power, labor, status, behavior, and emotion. The findings reveal both shared conceptualizations—such as the horse as a symbol of strength or endurance—and culturally specific associations rooted in local traditions, folklore, or social realities. By highlighting these linguistic and cultural parallels and distinctions, the article contributes to a better understanding of the interplay between metaphor, idiomaticity, and cultural perception in Romance languages.

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