ABSTRACT
Studies in the field of cognitive linguistics have shown that time is metaphorically structured in different ways among cultures. Based on the metaphor theory proposed by Lakoff and Johnson (1980c), a qualitative study was conducted to explore the use of time metaphors and concepts in Indonesian language. Data were primarily collected using the focus group discussion method. The results from 50 participants (24 men and 26 women) aged 18–33 years old show that, in the context of Indonesian language, time is metaphorically expressed in terms of moving objects, quantities, volume objects, and as a living thing. Contrary to the researcher’s expectation, the ‘rubber time’ that is commonly used to describe Indonesian people’s behaviour toward time was rarely mentioned by the participants. Compared with the metaphors of time represented in English (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980c), time metaphors in Indonesian language do not treat time as a commodity and orientational metaphors are not used. In conclusion, the study provides further evidence of the way in which the metaphorical structures placed around time vary between cultures. Further research is required to explore how each culture interprets time based on its associated metaphors and how this actually shapes the way a society thinks and acts.
