MAPPING THE MALAY MIND: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW OF ANALOGY AND CULTURAL CONCEPTUALIZATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEPC.1164084Keywords:
Akal Budi, Cognitive Semantics, Malay Figurative Language, Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
Understanding how indigenous populations cognitively map and culturally conceptualize reality through figurative language is crucial for preserving localized intellectual heritage in a rapidly globalizing world. Although Malay analogies are deeply intertwined with the region's socio-cultural worldview, known as Akal Budi, the intersection of their structural linguistics and psychological cognitive processing remains highly fragmented across disciplines, particularly lacking an integrated psycholinguistic framework connecting cognitive processing with the Malay socio-cultural worldview (Akal Budi). This persistent fragmentation necessitates a systematic literature review to consolidate existing evidence and clarify the complex psycholinguistic mechanisms at play. Therefore, this study aims to systematically synthesize the existing literature on the cognitive schemas and socio-cultural frameworks embedded within Malay analogies. This systematic literature review followed a structured procedure—encompassing identification, screening, and eligibility assessment—and its reporting was guided by the PRISMA 2020 statement (Page et al., 2021). A comprehensive search was conducted using Scopus, ScienceDirect, Dimensions.ai, and Google Scholar, with strict screening parameters to ensure only peer-reviewed literature was included. Following rigorous quality appraisal protocols, 7 articles were included in the final review. The extracted findings were synthesized using thematic analysis. The analysis identified three primary themes: (1) Cognitive Processing and Implicit Semantics, (2) Socio-Cultural Identity and Worldview (Akal Budi), and (3) Comparative and Cross-Cultural Conceptualizations. The synthesized findings reveal that processing Malay analogies appears to involve specific cognitive mechanisms to accurately decode implicit semantics rooted in historical socio-ecological interactions. Furthermore, while these metaphors traditionally functioned to maintain collective social harmony, they are increasingly adapted as strategic rhetorical tools in contemporary political and artistic discourse. The findings also underscore that their cross-cultural translation demands prioritizing underlying semantic equivalence over direct literal fidelity. This review integrates fragmented evidence on the cognitive and socio-cultural dimensions of Malay analogies while identifying methodological gaps and priorities for future empirical research in psycholinguistics, translation, and language education.
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