Analyzing of the Conceptualization of the Up-Down Orientational Metaphors in the Korean-Chinese Dimensional Adjective ‘Nopta/Gao(high)’

Since the adjective 'Nopta/Gao(high)' is a polysemous word with a high frequency of use in dimensional adjectives, therefore, it satisfies the basic conditions for the study of metaphorical semantics and has significant research value. Previous studies have analyzed the spatial meaning, extended meaning, and extended areas of 'Nopta/Gao(high)', which are of great significance for future research in this field. However, previous studies have not deeply analyzed the cognitive mechanisms employed in the process of expanding the metaphorical meaning of 'Nopta/Gao(high)' and the reasons for the expansion of meaning. Therefore, this paper analyzed the spatial meaning of 'Nopta/Gao(high)' and examined how this spatial meaning is extended to the abstract realm through Up-Down orientational metaphors. We conceptualize the metaphorical meaning of 'Nopta/Gao(high)' using upwardly oriented metaphors such as [MORE IS UP], [GOOD IS UP], [FORCE IS UP], and [EXCITED EMOTIONAL STATE IS UP]. We also find commonalities and differences in the extension of spatial concepts to several abstract domains, including quantity, evaluation, power, and emotion. In addition, we analyze the reasons for the expansion of the metaphorical meaning of 'Nopta/Gao(high)' in several ways.