Abstract. The article examines metaphorical patterns in the expression of pain in Bulgarian patient discourse. Patients tend to verbalize pain trough embodied, image-based and often impersonal constructions that reflect sensory experience rather than biomedical categorization. These metaphorical forms function as stable, culturally grounded communicative resources, however within standardized medical discourse such expressions are frequently perceived as vague or imprecise. The resulting mismatch in interpretation highlights the role of cultural models and the importance of interpretative competence for understanding patient meaning-making in clinical interaction.
Keywords: pain, metaphors, patient discourse, clinical communication, embodied language
This article was printed under project KP-06-N80/11 of 15.12.2023, funded by the Scientific Research Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science, second stage. Project topic: “The Bulgarian language in state institutions and in the public space: crises of communication and communication during crises”; scientific supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladislav Milanov. Project implementer: Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. The author of the article expresses special gratitude to the Scientific Research Fund for the support provided.
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