Function of Two Types of Similes in the Construction of Conceptual Metaphors (A Case Study of Four Plays: Arash, Death of Yazdgerd, Macbeth and Coriolanus)

The present study aims to introduce two types of similes, namely linguistic metamorphosis and linguistic sphinx, and to examine their roles in the construction of conceptual metaphors based on Kövecses’ model (2010). This investigation is conducted through a content analysis of four plays. Linguistic metamorphosis and linguistic sphinx provide a novel perspective on the classification of simile phrases, which is linked to the theory of conceptual metaphor. The current research is conducted using a descriptive-analytical method and is based on library research. The findings indicate that in the aforementioned plays, the contribution of linguistic metamorphosis to the construction of conceptual metaphors is greater than that of linguistic sphinx. In conceptual metaphors corresponding to linguistic metamorphosis, the metamorphosis of intangible elements into tangible elements is more prevalent than the reverse metamorphosis. Furthermore, the transformation of intangible elements into tangible elements is more prevalent than the transformation of tangible elements into intangible ones, in order to create hybrid mental creatures in conceptual metaphors that correspond to linguistic sphinx. Based on the analysis of the metamorphoses and the transformations of tangible and intangible elements with each other in conceptual metaphors that correspond to both linguistic metamorphosis and linguistic sphinx, the frequency distribution of instances consistent with Kövecses’s approach across all mentioned plays is higher than that of instances inconsistent with this approach. The results of this study are consistent with Kövecses’s perspective on the conceptual metaphor and demonstrate a common pattern that may lead to a deeper understanding of human language and thought.