Metaphern der Liebe in den Gedichten ‚Erklär mir, Liebe‘ von Ingeborg Bachmann und ‚Worte‘ von Nizar Qabbani

This study explores the conceptualization of love metaphors and linguistic images in German-speaking and Arabic cultures. Using George Lakoff and Mark Johnson’s metaphor theory, the analysis focuses on two poems: Nizar Qabbani’s ‘Worte’ and Ingeborg Bachmann’s ‘Erklär mir, Liebe.’ Both cultures perceive love between man and woman as challenging. Qabbani’s poem portrays it as an illusion, while Bachmann’s poem presents it as inexplicable. Interestingly, the metaphors used in the poems are universally understandable, transcending cultural boundaries. Both poems depict love through its absence, revealing a shared desire for romantic love. Bachmann’s poem features yearning for an erotic dream, while the Arabic poem lacks a sense of future prospects. These observations suggest culture-independent basic concepts within love metaphors.