In most Australian Indigenous languages,
emotions are closely connected with the body
through metaphor.

This page explains how this works.
Click below to read and hear all about it…

Which body parts are involved?
How does each emotion map onto the body?
What are the metaphors involved?

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Body

From your forehead to your feet, via your belly, your throat or your liver, across Australian Indigenous languages more than thirty body parts can symbolize emotional states. Find out more…

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Emotion

Does anger relate to your belly or to your throat? Is love about your heart, your liver, or your eyes? Or all of the above? What about compassion, jealousy, sadness, anxiety, kindness…?

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Metaphor

A flowing belly, a swollen nose, a burning throat… What states of your body do Australian Indigenous languages use to evoke emotions? What does it tell about the way we feel?

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Events

Shows, exhibitions,
seminars conferences, publications and more...

Research

More resources about emotions
in Australian Indigenous languages and cultures.

Perspectives

Activists, artists, writers and others
talk about emotions in Indigenous Australia.

 

Credits
Research and website produced with the support of
the Australian Research Council, under Discovery Early Career Research Award DE160100216,
and the University of Western Australia.
Prior research: ELDP IGS0125 (Hans Rausing Foundation), AIATSIS Grants G2007/7242 and G2009/7439.

 
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Contact
maia.ponsonnet@uwa.edu.au
use contact form

Credits
how to cite this page
Texts: © Maïa Ponsonnet, edited by Kitty-Jean Laginha
Illustrations: home page and headers: © Scamper Design
Illustrations: body parts and metaphors: © Maïa Ponsonnet
Illustrations: emotions: © Martine Perret

Advisory committee
Dr Alice Gaby, Monash University
Dr Doug Marmion, AIATSIS
Dr Yasmine Musharbash, Australian National University
Denise Smith-Ali, Noongar Boodjar Language Centre
Dr Michael Walsh, The University of Sydney