● Audio access ●

Emotional expressions involving the nose are moderately frequent, occurring in probably fewer than one Australian language out of four. Their distribution is spread out across the continent, albeit with strong representation in particular languages, like Kukatja in the Western Desert. Note that in a number of languages the word for ‘nose’ also means ‘face’.

Negative social emotions

Expressions with the nose are very clearly specialized for negative interpersonal emotions, particularly being angry or sulky, as well as some milder meanings like being moody. They can also describe negative social attitudes, including, largely, being selfish, stubborn or greedy. There are also a handful of nose expressions meaning shame (also a social emotion). In all these characteristics, the nose aligns quite neatly with the head and forehead. As for the metaphors involved, however, expressions with the nose share some features observed in expressions with the eyes.

Movements of the nose

A number of expressions involving the nose depict movements or orientations of the nose, including turning, raising, being high or down (sometimes flat). Movements of the nose imply movements of the head or face, which in turn are expected responses when sulking or otherwise ill-disposed. Accordingly, in Kaytetye (Central Australia) elhe etyengele anteyane, literally ‘turn your nose up at something’ means ‘dislike something’, and in Ngankikurungkurr (western Top End) ngal-syi, literally ‘have one’s nose in the air’ means ‘be aloof’. The fact that words for ‘nose’ sometimes also mean ‘face’ in Australian languages suggests that some of the words that only mean ‘nose’ at present may have meant ‘face’ in the past. It is possible that expressions with the nose originated with face words, and then the words for ‘face’ came to mean ‘nose’. This could help to explain why so many expressions with the nose evoke movements or orientations that seem to allude to movements or orientations of the face.

Size of the nose

Another common figurative representation concerns the size of the nose, which is typically depicted as large – big, long etc. –, again to express negative social emotions and attitudes. In Kukatja (Western Desert), for instance, we find mulya tarltu ‘nose becomes big’, meaning ‘selfish’. Again relating to size, a number of expressions present the nose as swollen, for instance Warlpiri (Central Australia) mulyu lirri-mi literally ‘nose swell’, meaning ‘dislike, be selfish, be disagreeable’. There are also a couple of expressions where the nose is presented as stiff or dirty, as in Gupapuyŋu (Yolngu, Arnhem Land) where ŋurru-nyikthun ‘become stained by grease mark’ means ‘pull a disapproving face’.

References

Hoddinott, William G. and Frances M. Kofod. The Ngankikurungkurr language (Daly river area, Northern Territory). Canberra: Pacific Linguistics, 1998.

Laughren, Mary and Warlpiri lexicography group. Warlpiri-English encyclopaedic dictionary. Electronic draft, October 2017, 2007.

Lowe, Beulah. Gupapuyŋu-English dictionary. Darwin: Aboriginal Resource & Development Services Inc., 1994.  Retrieved from https://ards.com.au/resources/downloadable/gupapuy%C5%8Bu-dictionary/

Peile, Anthony Rex. Body and soul: An Aboriginal view. Victoria Park, W.A.: Hesperian Press, 1997.

Ross, Alison and Myfany Turpin. Kaytetye to English Dictionary. Alice Springs, N. T.: IAD Press, 2012.