Bratchikova, N. S. METAPHORICAL CONCEPTS AND THEIR EXPRESSION IN TOMMI KINNUNEN’S NOVEL WHERE FOUR ROADS MEET. Proceedings of Petrozavodsk State University. 2025;47(3):13. DOI: 10.15393/uchz.art.2025.1164


BUBRIKHOV READINGS: TRADITIONS AND INNOVATIONS IN THE STUDY OF FINNO-UGRIC LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

METAPHORICAL CONCEPTS AND THEIR EXPRESSION IN TOMMI KINNUNEN’S NOVEL WHERE FOUR ROADS MEET

Bratchikova
N. S. 		Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow State Linguistic University
Keywords:
family novel
lexical composition
metaphor
metaphorical concept
conceptosphere
text style		 Summary: This research investigates the characteristics of metaphorical concepts in contemporary family novels, focusing specifically on Tommi Kinnunen’s novel Where Four Roads Meet (2014). The study’s hypothesis posits that metaphorical concepts are characterized by multilayeredness and a high degree of abstraction, wherein the attributes of one concept are interpreted through the lens of another. Furthermore, these metaphorical concepts are interconnected. A comprehensive set of methods was employed in this research, including lexicographic, syntactic, stylistic, contextual, and comparative analyses. This comprehensive approach unveiled the linguistic potential of Kinnunen’s novel, mani- fested through the creation of an atmosphere of isolation and social withdrawal, typical for Baltic-Finnic homesteads, and through conveying the emotional states of family members, marked by disconnection within the family clan and estrangement from the outside world. The comprehensive analysis facilitated an understanding of how linguistic fea- tures – specifically metaphors, allusions, and speech acts – reflect the social, political, and cultural realities of the nov- el’s time setting. Three key metaphorical concepts emerge in the narrative: home, path, and crossroads, all of which are closely intertwined and interconnected, with their external manifestations represented through the repeated lexical units talo (house), tie (path), and risteys (crossroads). Contextual analysis further elucidated the text within its cultural and historical framework. By examining metaphors, allusions, speech acts, and the characters’ expression of thoughts and feelings, this study provides a deeper insight into the emotional landscape and psychological states of the characters, thus offering a more nuanced understanding of the linguistic features of the literary work. The practical significance of this research lies in the proposed analytical model, which can be applied to the study of an author’s style and the linguistic features of literary texts.



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