Leiden University Student Repository

Van Lier, Sjef (2020)

Speaking from the Heart; Semantics of some negative emotion Terms in Tarifiyt

Master thesis | Linguistics (MA)

This thesis discusses emotion lexicon in Tarifiyt, an Afro-Asiatic Berber language of North Morocco. I will discuss the meaning of several negative emotion terms and expressions in this language. In the study of anthropological linguistics, the meaning of emotions in several languages has received attention. However, until now, the semantic field of emotions in Tarifiyt has not been researched. I will use the Natural Semantic Metalanguage and linguistic examples in order to discuss the semantics of these terms and expressions. I will conclude that there is a diverse emotion lexicon in Tarifiyt and that emotions are presented as verbs or as nouns and are something internal to a human being. The seat of emotions, ur (‘heart’) is crucial in understanding emotional expression in Tarifiyt. Furthermore, emotions are often expressed via emotion symptom expressions, so by expressing the bodily sensations that typically accompany the emotion.

Emotionology

anthopological linguistics

semantics

Berber languages

Tarifiyt

natural semantic metalanguage

Author

Van Lier, Sjef

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Language and Communication

Supervisors

Kossmann, Maarten

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en