[Lingtyp] Query: Metaphors of Time and etymology

[Kulikov, L.]

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From: Kulikov, L.
Sent: 24 January 2020 22:54
To: lingtyp-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org
Cc: kulikovli at googlemail.com
Subject: Query: Metaphors of Time and etymology

Dear colleagues,

It is well-known that the concept of Time is linguistically connected with a plethora of metaphors that help to accommodate the notions related to Time within the human mind. In particular, there are two well-known universal metaphors for Time: Time as rotation (wheel, revolving etc.) and Time as flow(ing) (river etc.).

The former metaphor underlies the etymology of the words for Time in many languages, including Indo-European. Cf., for instance:
1) Slavic (Old Church Slavonic) vrěmę (with cognates), going back to *vert-men- ‘turning, rotation’; and
2) (Vedic) Sanskrit kāla- ‘time’ derived from the Indic reflex of the Proto-Indo-European root *kwel- ‘move (around), revolve, rotate’ (cf. words for ‘wheel’ in several Indo-European languages, such as Greek kyklos, Slavic kolo- etc., Germanic (Eng.) wheel etc., all derived from the reflexes of the same root).

However, I was unable to find similar examples for the latter metaphor – that of river/flow. Can anyone provide examples from any language, illustrating this metaphor, i.e. word for Time etymologizable as ‘river’, ‘flow’, ‘stream’ etc.?
Many thanks,

Leonid Kulikov

Ghent University, Linguistics Dept.
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