A Critical Analysis of Love Metaphors in Moroccan Arabic

Abstract

This article critically examines the metaphors used to understand the concept of love in Moroccan Arabic, with the aim of revealing their role in shaping shared perceptions of love, whether positively or negatively. We hypothesize that these metaphors are used to mask conflicting and contradictory desires related to love; they are employed to justify dominance and control, and serve as a means of legitimizing violence, threats, and psychological and physical harm. The article adopts the theory of critical metaphor analysis as its overarching framework, particularly the contributions of Jonathan Charteris-Black in thisfield. Its aimisto critically examinemetaphors of love and highlight their potentially harmful role in establishing trust and persuading othersinto romantic relationships, often leading to manipulation and abuse. To achieve this, it is essential to raise awareness about how to deconstruct and understand metaphors, enabling the development of healthy romantic relationships free from the deception and manipulation inherent in their use. This will also foster a critical awareness of the role of metaphor in coercion, manipulation, and control, ultimately promoting healthy love based on affection, compassion, and mutual respect.