THE CONCEPTUAL STRUCTURE OF METAPHORS IN ENGLISH FROM A COGNITIVE LINGUISTICS PERSPECTIVE AND THEIR CULTURAL DETERMINATION

Résumé

This article examines the conceptual structure of metaphors in the English language from the perspective of cognitive linguistics, with particular emphasis on their cultural determination. Within the framework of cognitive metaphor theory, especially the works of G. Lakoff and M. Johnson, metaphor is viewed not merely as a stylistic device, but as a fundamental cognitive mechanism through which individuals conceptualize abstract experiences. The study explores how conceptual metaphors such as TIME IS MONEY, ARGUMENT IS WAR, and LIFE IS A JOURNEY reflect culturally embedded patterns of thought and social values prevalent in English-speaking communities. By analyzing metaphorical mappings between source and target domains, the article demonstrates that metaphors are systematically motivated by embodied experience and cultural context. Furthermore, the research highlights the role of culture in shaping metaphorical models, showing that while some conceptual metaphors have universal cognitive foundations, others are culture-specific and linguistically conventionalized. The findings underscore the importance of integrating cognitive and cultural approaches in metaphor studies, particularly for cross-cultural communication, translation studies, and foreign language teaching. The article contributes to a deeper understanding of how language, cognition, and culture interact in the formation of metaphorical meaning in English..