Metaphor in Neşet Ertaş's folk songs

Metaphor, a field with a breadth of usage that concerns many disciplines, also contributes to language research. In this study, words which is belongs to Neşet Ertaş's folk songs were examined within the domain of the metaphor concept to shed light on the development of language and its connection with thought. It was attempted to explain that metaphor is not merely a literary art born out of artistic concern, but rather a natural reflection of thought in language. Ertaş's folk songs were examined alongside cultural codes that influence people's mental worlds and lead to continuous change. The resulting metaphors were categorized into eight main headings and sixty-five subheadings. Metaphors were explained with the support of idioms, which are reflections of everyday language, and some metaphors were compared with classical poetry to elucidate differences. Alongside the dictionary meanings of the concepts, their mythological reflections were also included in the examination. Thus, an attempt was made to reveal the processes through which metaphors are formed and how they shape the mental structure of the poet.