Metaphoric conceptualization of time in the English language: a value-oriented study

The current research aims to investigate how conceptual metaphors of temporality are motivated by the systems of values held by a social community. Drawing on lexicographical and textual data from Old, Middle and Modern English we observe how gradual changes in value systems - from Christian theocentric outlook of the Middle Ages to modern secular egocentric world view- trigger cognitive shifts in the source domain of metaphoric mapping. We argue that it is analysis of historical "roots" of conceptual metaphors and investigation of modern technologies that impacts on the society where metaphor studies touch upon broad areas of the Humanities thus gaining remarkable insight into interrelated processes of conceptual dynamics and linguistic change.