Metaphors of Men in Arok Dedes Novel by Pramoedya Ananta Toer: A cognitive semantic study

Abstract

The study aims to examines the equality of men and women and the differences in perceptions of men’s metaphor that contained in the Arok Dedes novel. A total of 132 data were used to describe the lingual form of the men’s metaphor, the metaphorical meaning of men’s metaphor and the image schema of men’s metaphor in Arok Dedes novel. This study used a qualitative descriptive method using a cognitive semantics theory. The findings in the first analysis of lingual form showed that there are 23 idiomatic phrases, 80 non-idiomatic phrases, 22 predicative clauses, and 7 non-predicative clauses. The concept of metaphorical meanings that formed are state, action, causation, purpose, time, change, and means. There are 56 metaphors with negative meanings, 37 metaphors with neutral meanings, and 39 metaphors with positive meanings. Thus, it can be concluded that this study shows the basic concepts of men in this novel are almost always considered superior and more highlighted than women. Based on the findings, this research can also expand reader’s knowledge about concepts of men and the equality of men and women. Keywords—concepts of men; equality of men and women; image schemas; lingual form; metaphorical meaning