<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> The intention of this article is to demonstrate, within the framework of cognitive linguistics (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980a), how slang words associated with substance abuse are conceptualized via metaphors. This study analyses recreational drug slang terms found in the Drug Slang Dictionary in order to reveal categories of metaphors involved in drug users’ language. The results of the data analysis effectively reveal that, within a thematic approach, classes of metaphor are coded to enable connections between metaphorical concepts and drug addicts’ physiological experiences in order to present their personal meanings and cognitive processes. The study also involves drug addicts’ narratives to identify conceptual metaphors in their experiences. Notably, it is argued within this research that figurative language use is also connected to the cultural background of users to a great extent.</p></abstract>

The intention of this article is to demonstrate, within the framework of cognitive linguistics (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980a), how slang words associated with substance abuse are conceptualized via metaphors. This study analyses recreational drug slang terms found in the Drug Slang Dictionary in order to reveal categories of metaphors involved in drug users’ language. The results of the data analysis effectively reveal that, within a thematic approach, classes of metaphor are coded to enable connections between metaphorical concepts and drug addicts’ physiological experiences in order to present their personal meanings and cognitive processes. The study also involves drug addicts’ narratives to identify conceptual metaphors in their experiences. Notably, it is argued within this research that figurative language use is also connected to the cultural background of users to a great extent.

Conceptualizing the metaphors of drug abusers

Faculty of Health Sciences, Pécs University Bartók Béla street 38 7624, Pécs Hungary

Topics in Linguistics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Conceptualizing the metaphors of drug abusers"}

The intention of this article is to demonstrate, within the framework of cognitive linguistics (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980a), how slang words associated with...

Conceptualizing the metaphors of drug abusers

Published Online: Jun 15, 2016

Page range: 81 - 91

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/topling-2016-0006

Keywords
metaphors, conceptualization, thematic approach, coding, narratives

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Conceptualizing the metaphors of drug abusers

Published Online: Jun 15, 2016

Page range: 81 - 91

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/topling-2016-0006

Keywordsmetaphors, conceptualization, thematic approach, coding, narratives

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
metaphors, conceptualization, thematic approach, coding, narratives