Conceptualizing óbì and ọkàn: a comparative analysis of heart metaphors in igbo and yoruba

Abstract

This study explores conceptualizations associated with the heart rendered óbì and ọkan respectively in Igbo and Yoruba; two major Nigerian languages of the same typological descent. Although similar, these terms embody rich cultural metaphors that reveal how emotions, morality, personhood, and spirituality are perceived within each culture. Drawing on the Cognitive Linguistics framework, particularly Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) and based on data from primary and secondary sources, the study reveals that in both languages, the heart is metaphorically constructed as a fragile object, a container, a seat of thought and emotion, and even a moral compass. However, key differences emerge in the religious and metaphysical loading associated with each language. This comparative analysis not only enhances our understanding of embodiment in African languages but also emphasizes the interplay between language, cognition, and culture.