Abstract
The present chapter examines the lexeme ‘eye’ in Zamucoan, a small family of languages traditionally spoken in the Chaco Boreal, in South America. The morphology of ‘eye’, and the development of the lexeme over time are analyzed. All Zamucoan languages are characterized by eye/face polysemy, which is cross-linguistically well-documented. ‘Eye’ occurs in derivations and compounds for parts of the eye, the face and other body-related terms, such as ‘eyeglasses’, ‘mask’ and ‘acne’. In addition, ‘eye’ is the metaphorical source for many referents characterized by a round shape, which can undergo further metaphorical extension. These conceptualizations will be discussed in detail and can follow pathways of semantic change that have been described in the literature. The lexeme ‘eye’ is also found in compounds and idioms that refer to the sense of sight, eye conditions, states of mind, social behaviors and sleep. A condition or a deformation of the eye can serve to insult or mock someone, while the name of some animals refers to eye-related features. Finally, a few ideophones that are specifically used with ‘eye’ are described.
Journal
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Publication Name
Embodiment in Cross-Linguistic Studies: The ‘Eye’
Volume
31
ISBN/ISSN
1879-5412
Edition
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Issue
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Pages Count
25
Location
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Publisher
Brill
Publisher Url
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Publisher Location
Leiden, Netherlands
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EISSN
N/A
DOI
10.1163/9789004498594_014