Abstract

This study investigates conceptualizing anger in Persian by means of metaphor, one of the most effective devices of conceptualization. First of all, the anger metaphors in Persian are gathered from the utterances of Persian speakers in Tehran during 1390-1391, and then the determined source domains in Persian are compared with 13 source domains introduced by Kövecses. Anger metaphors in Persian are divided into 3 groups based on Kövecses model (2000). Analysis of 72 metaphorical expressions shows that breakdown /destruction with the highest frequency and fire /heat, physiological change, and animal behavior /reaction with equal frequency are the most common source domains of anger metaphors in Persian. After dividing these metaphors into three groups, most of them are placed within the first group. In other words, the great part of metaphors represents emotional responses out of anger. Moreover, results of the analysis indicate the effect of cultural beliefs on the selection of different source domains among different communities, even within one community.