Romanova M. V. The Role of the Image Schema “Container” in the Verbalization of the Concept “Śulem” ‘Heart’ in Udmurt

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https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.26182.183-199
https://elibrary.ru/sgviwp
УДК / UDC 159.942:811.511.131

The Role of the Image Schema “Container” in the Verbalization of the Concept “Śulem” ‘Heart’ in Udmurt

M. V. Romanova
University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary

Abstract

Introduction. The article is devoted to the study of the “container” image schema and its role in the metaphorical conceptualization of emotions through the concept śulem ‘heart’ in the Udmurt language. The study relevance lies in the fact that the cognitive analysis of image schemas and cognitive metaphors in this language has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study is to identify and systematically analyze the metaphorical realizations of the container schema within the structure of the concept śulem ‘heart’ in the Udmurt language.

Materials and Methods: The object of the study consists of metaphorical expressions with the lemma śulem ‘heart’ from the National Corpus of the Udmurt Language, collected through targeted sampling and analyzed using cognitive-linguistic methods. Additional data were obtained from bilingual dictionaries, a monograph, and a folklore collection.

Results and Discussion. The image schemа “container”, realized through the concept śulem ‘Heart’, plays a central role in the conceptualization of emotions in the Udmurt language. In the Udmurt linguistic cognition the heart is understood as an enclosed space capable of containing emotions and inner experiences. The metaphor “The heart is a container for emotions” is analyzed, where emotions are conceptualized as substances, fluids, materials, or living beings, or light. Particular attention is given to the role of spatial case markers and postpositions in formation of metaphorical structure, as well as to the schemas of “full/empty”. The heart as a container may be represented in the form of a house, chest, or nest.

Conclusion. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that, for the first time, a systematic analysis of the “container” image schema has been carried out based on Udmurt language data within the framework of cognitive linguistics. The results show that the metaphor “Heart as a container” in the Udmurt language combines universal mechanisms of metaphorization with culture-specific aspects of worldview. The study of image schemas and cognitive metaphors serves as an important means of accessing human cognition and contributes to understanding how different cultures perceive and interpret the world.

Keywords: Udmurt language, cognitive linguistics, image schema, cognitive metaphor, container, conceptualization, emotions

Conflict of interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.

For citation: Romanova M.V. The Role of the Image Schema “Container” in the Verbalization of the Concept “Śulem” ‘Heart’ in Udmurt. Finno-Ugric World. 2026;18(2):183‒199. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.26182.183-199

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Information about the author:

Marina V. Romanova, PhD Student of the Department of Finno-Ugrian Philology, University of Szeged (2 Egyetem St., Szeged 6722, Hungary), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4734-6103, SPIN-code: 4224-9323, marinalintu@gmail.com

The author has read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 04.12.2025; revised 09.01.2026; accepted 29.01.2026.

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