National Identity of Mongolia through Metaphorical Language

Author: Gantsetseg Sanjmyatav (Mandakh Burtgel University, Mongolia)
Speaker: Gantsetseg Sanjmyatav
Topic: Linguistic Anthropology
The (SCOPUS / ISI) SOAS GLOCAL CALA 2019 General Session

Abstract

Impressive language diversity is always identified through the metaphor in the twin branches of linguistic and anthropology. The significant studies on language anthropology, which includes both cultural-historical factors and the constraints of human cognition, are engaging in interdisciplinary studies at the globalized era.

The primary goal of this research work is to identify Mongolian national mentality through the metaphorical language. In order to reach the goal the following objectives of this qualitative study were 1) to study metaphor as a linguistic unit of the general linguistics; 2) to define etalon and value of metaphorical language in Mongolia; 3) to define national mentality.

The research data, over a hundred metaphorical phrases, were collected from the famous novel ‘Tungalag Tamir’ written by Lodoidamba.Ch, which interprets Mongolian revolution period and way of living in the beginning of the 20th century (Lodoidamba.Ch, 1966). The linguistic data were classified and analyzed using qualitative methods in accordance with the research objectives. The research results were stated with descriptive analysis focusing on interpreting national mentality of Mongolia. The findings of the research were supported by post-structural and language relativity theories.

Keywords: Metaphorical language, cultural etalon, cultural value, national mentality