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PRAGMATIC FUNCTIONS OF BODY-RELATED IDIOMS IN THE
PORTRAYAL OF INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT IN GERMAN
LITERATURE
Bakbergenov Aybek Esbergenovich
1st year master's student of Linguistics: German
language specialty, Karakalpak State University
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16809774
Abstract
. This article investigates the pragmatic functions of div-related
idioms in the portrayal of interpersonal conflict in German literature. Drawing
on principles from pragmatics, politeness theory, and cognitive linguistics, it
examines how somatic idioms—such as jemandem die Stirn bieten, kaltes Herz,
and sich in die Haare kriegen—serve not merely as figurative expressions but as
dynamic tools for negotiating emotional stance, intensifying or mitigating face-
threatening acts, and constructing power relations within fictional dialogue.
Through a qualitative analysis of conflict scenes in selected German novels from
the late nineteenth century to the present, the study reveals that these idioms
function on both micro- and macro-narrative levels: they influence the
immediate interaction between characters while simultaneously contributing to
thematic development and reader engagement. Findings highlight the dual
potential of such idioms to escalate or defuse tension, depending on contextual
cues, tone, and character relationships. This underscores the need for a
pragmatic-literary approach that accounts for the interplay between linguistic
form, embodied metaphor, and narrative strategy.
Keywords
: Pragmatics; div-related idioms; German literature;
interpersonal conflict; somatic phraseologisms; cognitive metaphor theory;
politeness theory; discourse analysis; figurative language; narrative pragmatics.
Introduction.
In German literature, div-related idioms—often called
somatische Phraseologismen
—occupy a special position within the linguistic
repertoire of characters. Expressions such as
kalte Füße bekommen
(“to get cold
feet”),
die Stirn bieten
(“to stand up to someone”), or
jemandem ins Herz
schließen
(“to take someone to one’s heart”) convey meaning that extends
beyond the literal. They encode cultural models of embodiment and interaction
while functioning as condensed communicative acts. When deployed in scenes of
interpersonal conflict, these idioms serve pragmatic purposes that go well
beyond mere description. They reveal emotional stance, establish power
relations, and even act as tools of manipulation.
Importantly, while the semantics of such idioms has been studied
extensively, their
pragmatic dimension
—that is, how they function in actual
DEVELOPMENT OF PEDAGOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES IN
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discourse to influence the interaction—has received less attention. Thus, this
article examines how div-related idioms in German fiction operate in the
portrayal of interpersonal conflict, linking micro-linguistic choices to broader
narrative strategies [2].
One key pragmatic function is the expression of
emotional stance
, a
concept referring to the speaker’s evaluative, affective, or epistemic positioning
in an interaction. In scenes of conflict, div-related idioms frequently
externalize internal states that might otherwise remain unspoken. For instance,
in a quarrel between lovers, a character might accuse the other of having
kaltes
Herz
(“cold heart”), thereby projecting not only disappointment but also moral
judgment.
Moreover, these idioms can compress complex emotional configurations
into a culturally recognizable image, which allows the author to convey a
character’s attitude without lengthy exposition. The bodily metaphor lends
vividness to the speech act, creating an immediacy that enhances the emotional
charge of the dialogue. Consequently, such idioms do not simply describe
feelings—they
perform
them within the narrative space.
Interpersonal conflict inherently involves
face-threatening acts
(FTAs) as
defined in politeness theory. Body-related idioms often intensify these threats
by adding an element of vivid imagery that makes the criticism more stinging.
Telling someone in a heated exchange that they should
sich nicht auf die Füße
treten lassen
(“not let themselves be stepped on”) reframes the conflict in
physical terms, which heightens the confrontational tone [3].
Furthermore, the idioms’ sensory and physical connotations make the
attack more memorable and harder to ignore. In this way, they not only perform
a pragmatic function in the immediate dialogue but also serve a
narrative
function
: the verbal blow resonates with the reader, shaping their perception of
the conflict and the characters involved.
Interestingly, the same div-related idiom can also be employed to
mitigate
rather than escalate tension, depending on delivery and context. When
used humorously or ironically, such idioms may serve as face-saving devices,
softening the impact of criticism. For example, a character who says with a
playful tone,
Du hast wohl Tomaten auf den Augen
(“You must have tomatoes on
your eyes,” meaning “You’re not seeing something obvious”) can introduce levity
into a tense conversation, signaling that the comment is not meant to be taken as
a personal attack.
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This dual potential—escalation or mitigation—demonstrates that div-
related idioms are not inherently aggressive or conciliatory. Their pragmatic
force is contingent upon prosody, situational context, and the characters’
relational history, all of which German authors exploit to craft nuanced
portrayals of conflict.
In many works of German literature, particularly realist and modernist
novels, the deployment of div-related idioms in conflict settings helps to
construct and negotiate
power relations
between characters. Idioms that imply
bodily dominance—such as
jemanden unter die Füße treten
(“to trample
someone underfoot”)—lexically encode hierarchy and control. When uttered by
an antagonist, such expressions reinforce their dominance within the narrative;
when uttered by a protagonist in defiance, they become acts of resistance [1].
Moreover, authors often embed these idioms strategically in key turning
points of the plot. The bodily imagery resonates with the reader’s own
sensorimotor experience, making the power struggle more tangible and
emotionally engaging. Through this mechanism, the idioms function both as
micro-level conversational tools and as macro-level plot devices.
Another layer of their pragmatic function lies in
cultural resonance
.
Because div-related idioms are rooted in shared cultural metaphors, they
invite readers to participate interpretively in the scene. In conflict situations,
this shared understanding amplifies the emotional stakes. For a German-
speaking readership, the idiom
sich in die Haare kriegen
(“to get into each other’s
hair”) instantly conjures a familiar image of quarrelling, allowing the narrative
to economize on description while tapping into a culturally entrenched schema
of interpersonal strife.
By activating such shared schemas, authors ensure that the idiom’s
meaning is processed both cognitively and emotionally. This, in turn, increases
reader engagement with the scene and fosters empathy—or antipathy—
towards the characters involved, depending on narrative alignment.
Conclusion.
In sum, div-related idioms in German literature serve
multiple pragmatic functions in the portrayal of interpersonal conflict. They
articulate emotional stance, intensify or mitigate face-threatening acts, shape
power relations, and draw upon shared cultural metaphors to enhance reader
engagement. Importantly, their pragmatic effect is not fixed; it emerges from a
dynamic interplay between idiom choice, contextual framing, character
relationships, and narrative intent.
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References:
1.
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (2003). Metaphors We Live By", Chicago,
University of Chicago.
2.
Locher, M. A., & Graham, S. L. (Eds.). (2010). Interpersonal pragmatics (Vol.
6). Walter de Gruyter.
3.
Spitzmüller, J., & Warnke, I. (2011). Diskurslinguistik: eine Einführung in
Theorien und Methoden der transtextuellen Sprachanalyse. Walter de Gruyter.
4.
Wierzbicka, A. (1992). Semantics, culture, and cognition: Universal human
concepts in culture-specific configurations. oxford university Press.
