Metaphors in the Acehnese Expressions upon Hearing the Death of a Muslim

Different culture has different expressions used upon hearing about the deceased. The expressions are commonly metaphorical, even though many people are unaware of their conceptual meanings. Awareness of language use is crucial, as it can shape our thoughts and actions. However, research on death-related expressions as metaphorical is dearth. Drawing upon Lakoff and Johnson's Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), this study attempted to examine the metaphors used in the Acehnese language to refer to Muslim death by interviewing ten people in Aceh province. They were interviewed directly and by phone to know what expressions they commonly use when hearing a Muslim person die. The interview started with a probing question, such as saying, "Kameuninggai is used to mean a person has died, correct or not? The interviews were recorded using a mobile phone, transcribed, and then translated into English for analysis. The data were then analyzed by using the CMT to the transcripts. Results revealed many Acehnese people's expressions, including "Kageuwo bak Allah," "Kageutinggai geutanyo," and "Kawafeut." It shows that various metaphors exist in the expressions used but are dominated by DEATH IS A JOURNEY. Acehnese people's Islamic religion most probably influences this that the hereafter is the destination of every human being. In Islam, death and lying in the cemetery are part of the journey to the hereafter.