“Metaphors and metonymy regarding body parts in the Kanuni i Lekëe Dukagjinit and in Old Geg documents. A preliminary study”

In this article we will discuss the phenomenon of metaphor and metonyms in lexis and expressions relating to body parts in the Albanian language as manifested in the Kanuni i Lekë Dukagjinit and in Old Geg documents. Before doing so, it is expedient to briefly run over some of the key concepts behind metaphor, metonymy and embodiment so as to provide the theoretical background for the discussion which follows and also to make clear how complex and topical a theoretical area metaphors and metonymy are even in more frequently studied languages such as English and thus demonstrate how valuable studies such as this into a so-called lesser-spoken language may prove to be. As the title suggests, our aim is not to offer a definitive treatment of this area but rather to produce a preliminary study which will raise more questions than it will proverbially answer but which will, the authors hope, serve as a catalyst for other such studies not just in Albanian in as diverse languages, varieties and cultural contexts as possible.