Cognitive and Semantic Features of Spanish Phraseology: Conceptualization and Metaphoric Structures

Abstract

This article explores the cognitive and semantic characteristics of Spanish phraseology, focusing on how idiomatic expressions reflect conceptual structures and metaphoric patterns in the language. Through an interdisciplinary approach integrating cognitive linguistics, semantic theory, and phraseological research, the study examines how Spanish phraseological units (PUs) function not only as lexicalized forms but also as conceptual metaphors shaped by cultural and cognitive processes. The analysis demonstrates that phraseological metaphors in Spanish are deeply rooted in embodied cognition, cultural models, and cross-linguistic similarities and differences. The article also considers the role of conceptual blending and image schemas in the construction of meaning in Spanish idioms. By providing theoretical insights and illustrative examples, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationship between cognition, culture, and phraseological semantics.