The metaphorical conceptualization of politeness in Latin. Embodiment and social relations of distance and solidarity

This paper presents an overview of the metaphorical basis of politeness-related concepts and behavioral practices in Latin. The survey takes into account a long diachronic period (from early to medieval Latin), in order to identify significant evolutionary trends, and different levels of analysis (morphology, lexicon, syntax). The results of the analysis prove a relevant productivity of bodily-based orientational metaphors, based upon metaphorical oppositions such as UP/DOWN, BIG/SMALL, and PROXIMITY/DISTANCE