Body Part Terms as a Source of Chained Metonymies in Hausa

This study aims to analyze the serial structure of chained metonymies related to body parts in Hausa. Specifically, it seeks to identify the metonymic mappings frequently found within these chained metonymies and the most prevalent semantic domains where they occur. The analysis employs the chained metonymy model proposed by Hilpert (2005) and the conceptual metonymy theory developed by Lakoff and Johnson (1980), which was later refined by Radden and Dirven (2007). Data for this study were collected through participant observations, with the literal meanings of each concrete noun expression identified. Additionally, other meanings evoking multiple conceptual shifts were also identified and collected. The study found that the most common metonymic mapping is the E-E-C metonymy, occurring eight times, followed by the E-C metonymy, which occurs six times, and the E-E metonymy, which occurs twice. Another significant finding is that various body parts are extensively used by Hausa speakers to create conceptual expressions through chained metonymies. The findings also support Hilpert's (2005) assertion that chained metonymies typically begin with E-metonymies. The analysis shows that no chained metonymy starts with C-metonymies, indicating that C-metonymies are rarely found at the beginning of a chained metonymy.