Metaphorical extensions of the color term kaala ‘black’ in Hindi

Abstract

This study explores the semantic and lexical extensions of the term for ‘black’ in Hindi by analyzing idiomatic expressions, compound words and culturally grounded metaphorical expressions from a cultural-cognitive perspective. The most commonly used Hindi term for black is kaala. The paper presents an analysis of 42 expressions with the term kaala (or its other morphological variants) in Hindi including idioms and compounds. The analysis finds that the color term extends to several experiential domains from emotions to morality and politics, usually signifying a negative aspect, but in some cases also a protection from negativity. It is found to be deep-rooted in Hindu mythology and grounds many a cultural belief. Several underlying metaphors are brought up by this analysis, many of which seem to be universal across languages, such as bad is black. But some metaphorical conceptualizations are found to be culture-specific, for instance the use of something black, like kaala tiika (black mark on the forehead or cheek), to counter the evil, and a goddess called kaali, said to have lethal powers. The analysis shows that the embodiment of human experience through the color ‘black’ has a substantial universal basis but at the same time, culture can lead to unique conceptualizations, as is the case with kaala.