Analysis of Entities and Substances Metaphors for ‘Love’ in Mowlana’s Sonnets

According to cognitive approach of language, human experience of entities and substances prepares experiential basis for cognation of abstract concepts. Using the conceptual metaphor theory, this study focuses on cases in which Mowlana conveys tangible areas of the entities and substances on the abstract domain of ‘love’ in his sonnets. The results of the research show that four mega metaphors of ‘God is king’, ‘Love is force’, ‘Theosophy is food’, and ‘Theosophy is light’ dominate the text and organize micro metaphors on its environment. These micro metaphors, based on existing correspondences, has conceptualized some of the most important functions of love such as: mortality, survival, attraction, submission, expansion, manifestation, meditation, and unity of existence. The study of these metaphors from the point of view of source realms reflects the power of their visualization. They also show the complexity of the concept of love in terms of the principles of ‘highlighting’ and ‘hiding’. Also, the comparison of the frequency of metaphors and their cognitive functions reveals three types of metaphors: multi-function with high frequency, single-function with high frequency, and single-function with low frequency. The first type of metaphors, because of its extensive field of reference, has a special ability to conceptualize different aspects of love. But, the metaphors of the second type and some of the third type metaphors can emphasize specific function. Also, the comparison of the positive and negative functions of love, Mowlana introduces love as a positive, sweet, and pleasant experience that living without it is impossible; however, it necessitates the destruction of apparent existence