The Concepts of “Eye /ta:/” as Spatial and Container: Cognitive Semantics Analysis

Abstract

This article examines the metaphorical mechanisms underlying the conceptualization of the Thai word ta (eye) through two primary metaphors: “the eye as a container” and “the eye as a space”, based on the conceptual metaphor theory proposed by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson (1980). This analysis is part of the research project titled “Semantic Extension of the Thai Lexeme for the Body Part 'Ta:' (Eye): A Cognitive Semantic Perspective,” which aims to investigate how Thai speakers construct meaning for the term ta by mapping relationships between the concrete and the abstract. Data for the study were drawn from instances of the word ta: found in various compound forms and co-occurring expressions across multiple contexts. The analysis identified two major metaphorical conceptualizations. First, the metaphor “the eye as a space” appears in three primary semantic contexts, with metaphorical expressions reflecting spatial properties such as /krɔ̀ːp kʰáp kʰɛ̂ːp kʰɔ̌ːŋ hǔː tāː/ (narrow or limited visual frames), /tāː kwâːŋ/ (wide eyes) , and /tāː tàm/ (low eyes). Second, the metaphor “the eye as a container” occurs in eleven distinct metaphorical meanings, including expressions related to containment and perceptual reception such as /pìt tāː/ (closed eyes), /pɤ̀ːt tāː/ (open eyes), dūaŋ tāː pen nâː tàːŋ kʰɔ̌ːŋ hǔa.tɕai/ (“the eyes are the window to the heart”), /rók tāː/ (cluttered sight), /sà ʔàːt tāː/ (clear to the eye), /lāːn.tāː/ (dazzled sight), /tāː wâːŋ/ (empty eyes), /tem tāː/ (full view), /ʔɔ̀ːk nɔ̂ːk tāː/ (out of sight), /kʰâw tāː/  (caught the eye), and /nai tāː/ (within sight). The study reveals that Thai speakers metaphorically extend the concept of visual space into the domain of vision and perception, which can be measured in terms such as long–short [where good is long], wide–narrow [where good is wide], and high–low [where more is upward movement and less is downward]. These reflect how the cognitive system of language users views the “eye” as a bounded area with vertical and horizontal dimensions. Moreover, the study finds that visible objects and emotions are conceptualized as being located within a mental or emotional space. The eye is metaphorically seen as both a container for emotions and a container for images. The concept of “eye as space” suggests that the meaning of “ta” arises from spatial and directional experiences, which are then mapped onto abstract concepts such as vision, insight, and emotional expression. The findings demonstrate how the processes of meaning construction involve an integration of cognitive systems, cultural context, and embodied experiences.