In masters research (FREITAS, 2017), it was observed cognitive processes underlying constructions of meanings in Brazilian jokes containing popular names for vulva and penis. This research confirmed that the moral restrictions affect the use of lexicon relative to sexual organs, since some parts of the body are taboo. The main motivation for this study came from some lists, available on the internet, comprising more than four thousand designations in Portuguese for vulva and penis. The study concluded that the conceptual blending is the process which allows the union of several cognitive domains that reveal creativity of thinking in order to deal with taboos, creating euphemisms to circumvent the meaning, and occasioning the social acceptance of these words/objects affected by moral interdictions. Moreover, when sexual organs frames are triggered, some cognitive processes tend to repeat themselves in a relatively stable way, such as the activation of vital relations of REPRESENTATION and ANALOGY (FAUCONNIER; TURNER, 2002), which justify the metaphorical and metonymic designations. It was also observed the recurrent activation of general conceptual metaphors of the types (PART OF THE) HUMAN BODY IS OBJECT, PERSON IS ANIMAL, (PART OF THE) HUMAN BODY IS ANIMAL, (PART OF THE) BODY OF THE PERSON IS PLANT which structure specific conceptual metaphors motivated by sociocultural aspects, such as PENIS IS CYLINDRICAL OBJECT, PENIS IS AVE, VULVA IS CURVED OBJECT, VULVA IS THICKET and VULVA IS RECEPTACLE OF PENIS. On the basis of this study, it is assumed that imaginative abilities for creation of alternative terms for female sexual organ contribute to a social acceptance of tabooed concepts/objects, although, in the hegemonizing perspective of gender adopted by a patriarchal society like the Brazilian, such concepts/objects/names are undervalued by social supremacy, in which the male figure is prominent. In addition, these alternative designations demonstrate the attitude of Portuguese language speakers from Brazil who, by minimizing and circumventing the tabooed aspects of the lexicon related to the knowledge of the female organ, ratify the prominence of the male figure, especially the male sexual organ. Continuing the research in doctorate, it is intended to observe the conceptualization of names for vulva and penis taking into consideration the lists that boosted the initial study, from a feminist perspective of construction of gender, considering cultural and experiential values underlying these metaphors of thought and, consequently, to such denominations of derogatory value.

 

 

REFERENCES

FREITAS, P. O. de. Conceptual blending in construction of meaning in jokes with names of sexual organs. 2017. 122 f. Dissertation (Master in Linguistics) - Institute of Letters, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, 2017.

 

FAUCONNIER, G.; TURNER, M. The way we think: conceptual blending and the mind`s hidden  complexities. New York: Basis Books, 2002.