Food metaphors in Akan

Abstract

In Akan, our everyday language is rife with metaphorical expressions. Most words or expressions on food denote a multitude of metaphorical meanings. The term ‘metaphor’ is very pervasive in pragmatics, semantics, lexicology, literature, philosophy and cognitive studies (Kovescses, 2002). Food metaphors include any sentences, phrases or words that have consumable inanimate objects in; be it cooked food, uncooked food, fruit, dessert, meat, cooked fish, dried fish, roasted fish etc. (Maalej, 2007). The metaphorical extensions from one domain of meaning cover other notions and objects in the Akan Language. This study examined the food metaphor expressions in Akan employing the theories of Cognitive Based theory (Sweetser, 1990) and the Conceptual Metaphor theory (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980). This study was a qualitative case study and collected data using observation and unstructured interview. The study revealed that the Akan language uses indirect ways of communicating and the people employ that by using food items. Speakers use them without being questioned and listeners also interpret them as expressions used every day. We discovered that most of these expressions have become conventionalized and speakers automatically use them. These metaphorical expressions develop from our perceptions of the food items found around us. The study revealed that each meaning functions on its pragmatic and contextual usages. It has also been discovered that, some of these food items in Akan can be metaphorically used to symbolize the whole life or the entire personality of a person, behavior, characteristics, thought or mind.