Poznań Studies in Contemporary Linguistics 50(1), 2014, pp. 1–13 © Faculty of English, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland doi:10.1515/psicl-2014-0001 METAPHOR, METONYMY AND EMOTIONS SYLWIA WOJCIECHOWSKA Faculty of English, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań swojciechowska@wa.amu.edu.pl KONRAD JUSZCZYK Institute of Linguistics, Faculty of Modern Languages and Literatures, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań juszczyk@amu.edu.pl 1. Introduction “Feelings or emotions are the universal language and are to be honored. They are the authentic expression of who you are in your deepest place” (Judith Wright). This quote from the well-acknowledged Australian poet, environmen- talist and social activist clearly place emotions at the core of human existence and communication. Human beings express emotions not only through their ac- tions, but also through their language, in the form of gestures and verbal com- munication. The language of emotions is known for its wide use of figurative expressions, mostly metaphor and metonymy. 2. The importance of figurative language as a domain of expression and communication Since the mid 1970’s linguists have been seeking to discover the actual contents of human cognition (Gibbs 1996: 49) understood as correspondences between perception, a conceptual system of thought, bodily experience, and linguistic or communication structures. Research on metaphor has led to establish cognitive linguistics as a new current in the science of language. Although researchers may disagree in philosophical assumptions and differ in defining metaphor and metonymy, they all claim that figurative language, be that metaphor, metonymy, Brought to you by | Nanyang Technological University Authenticated Download Date | 6/3/15 8:07 AM