Compare Metaphors Related to Life, and Death in English and in Other Languages

One reason there are so many Latin and Greek words for birth, life, and death is that the Christian missionaries from Rome carried these root words to the New World. When metaphors become firmly established, speakers use them as the basis for new metaphors. These are what we call “second-generation metaphors.” As an example, consider the names for our months: January (Greek: Janus, god of doors), February (Latin: Februum, god of purification), March (Greek: Mars, god of war), April (Latin: Aprilis: opening of Spring), May (Latin: Maia, goddess of fertility), June (Greek: Juno, chief female god), July (Latin: Julius Caesar), August (Latin: Caesar Augustus), September (Latin: sept-, seven), October (Latin: oct-, eight), November (Latin: nov-, nine), and December (Latin: dec-, ten).

Notice that when Julius Caesar named a month after himself, he wanted 31 days, so he tome a couple of days from February. Augustus Caesar also wanted 31 days. These acts make February a short month, and also throw off September, October, November, and December which were the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th months before Julius and Augustus had months named after them.

Check out the attached PowerPoint about Time, Life, and Death Metaphors, and then discuss time, life, and death metaphors in English and other languages.