The common source domains and target domains

The conceptual domain from which we draw metaphorical expressions to understand another conceptual domain is called source domain, while the conceptual domain that is understood this way is the target domain. Thus, life, argument, love, theory, ideas, social organizations, and others are target domains, while journeys, war, buildings, food, plants, and others are source domains. The target domain is the domain that we try to understand through the use of the source domain.

The common source domains include the human body, heath and illness, animals, machines and tools, buildings and constructions,plants, games and sports, cooking and foods, economic transactions, forces, light and darkness, heat and cold, and movement and direction.

The common target domains include emotion, desire, morality, thought, society, religion, politcs, economy, human relationships, communication, events and actions, time, and life and death.