Figurative Meaning in Cross-Cultural Contexts: Exploring Moroccan Figurative Language through Conceptual Blending

Figurative language links cultural cognition to linguistic expression by displaying collective knowledge and histories together with social values. The research evaluates figurative meaning in diverse cultural settings through analysis of Moroccan linguistic patterns with Conceptual Blending Theory (CBT). The study investigates the interface between Moroccan Arabic and English languages in figurative words like idioms and proverbs with metaphors and how they create meaning through both cultural and cognitive perspectives. This study uses qualitative research techniques combined with semi-structured interviews that gather data from Moroccan bilingual individuals and linguistic experts to determine how conceptual combination affects understanding of figurative language. The analysis shows Moroccan Arabic figurative expressions stem from historical factors as well as religious elements and socio-economic situations while English figurative language expresses itself through personal and monetary metaphors. Research shows Moroccan language speakers use cognitive blending processes to understand English metaphors by blending linguistic structures with their cultural background. This study provides meaningful additions to intercultural communication research through its investigation of cultural meaning construction between different linguistic groups. Figure speech depends on cognitive mechanisms to function because conceptual blending controls the construction of meaning between languages. Studies should investigate the mental processing demands of figurative language when participants speak different languages.