Exploring the Structural Mappings of Eating Metaphors in Darija

This paper explores the pervasive presence of food metaphors in Darija (Moroccan Arabic) and examines their role as a fundamental mechanism of human thought rather than a mere stylistic embellishment. Food, as an essential aspect of human experience, carries both positive connotations—such as intellect, virtue, and happiness—and negative associations, including suffering, mortality, and conflict. Through an analysis of Darija data, this study investigates how food metaphors are mapped onto abstract domains such as ideas and temperament, a phenomenon observed across unrelated cultures due to the universal experiential significance of food. The findings support Lakoff’s (1993) assertion that even the most poetic or creative metaphors arise from well-established conceptual structures embedded in cultural cognition. Additionally, this paper identifies variations in the TEMPERAMENT IS FOOD metaphor, demonstrating that while this conceptual mapping exists across cultures, its specific manifestations are shaped by differences in culinary traditions, sensory perceptions, and cultural attitudes toward taste. A comparative analysis of EATING metaphors in Darija and Chinese reveals both similarities and divergences, which this study attributes to cognitive commonalities and cultural influences. While Moroccan linguistic traditions reflect the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), resulting in a metaphorically rich language, Chinese metaphorical expressions are shaped by the philosophical traditions of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. This exploration highlights the intricate interplay between language, cognition, and culture, offering insights into how food metaphors structure human understanding across diverse societies.