Meaning Conceptualization of WOMAN in Iraqi Arabic

Abstract

The Iraqi  dialect is rich in vocabulary and terminology, and women have their share of this,    with numerous conceptual metaphors used in daily life. There are many concepts used in everyday colloquial language to describe women: sometimes they are described as weak, incapable, incompetent, and unwise (using various expressions). Other times, these terms are used to express praise and highlight their virtues. It should be noted that the second type is used in a very narrow scope, almost confined to literary texts. This is in stark contrast to the first type, which is used in everyday life. This necessitates paying special attention to this topic through a detailed study, analysis, and interpretation of the texts, given that they reflect Iraqi society's perceptions of women and their implications through the use of language and metaphors. Therefore, we find it useful to shed light on these metaphors in this study.