Somatic Phraseologisms As Markers Of Emotional Expression In Modern German Novels

Abstract

This article explores the role of somatic phraseologisms as markers of emotional expression in modern German novels. Since idioms involving body parts and bodily functions condense cultural knowledge into conventionalized forms, they provide authors with a powerful tool for depicting affective states. Building on the works of Burger, Fleischer, Dobrovol’skij, Piirainen, and Kövecses, the paper analyzes how somatic idioms function as narrative shortcuts for conveying emotions such as fear, anger, disgust, shame, and relief. At the same time, the discussion demonstrates that these idioms are not static clichés but dynamic devices that authors refresh through contextual adaptation, syntactic variation, and prosodic positioning. Drawing on illustrative examples, the article highlights how somatic idioms contribute to characterization, focalization, and cultural representation in contemporary German literature. Ultimately, it argues that somatic phraseologisms are central to the stylistic economy of modern novels because they embody emotions in a linguistically efficient, culturally meaningful, and aesthetically versatile way.