Peeling the Onion: A Cultural Analysis of Bahuvrihi (Exocentric) Compounds in Punjabi

The
study aims at the analysis of bahuvrihi (exocentric) compounds in
Punjabi with special focus on how these compounds arrive at the meaning of
‘having X’? In literature exocentric compounds could not grasp the attention
of the linguists due to their unpredictable meaning and less productivity, so
no theory or model is introduced yet for the analysis of these compounds.
Looking at the whole scenario the study with the help of data collected in
Punjabi- a New Indo-Aryan language claims that every exocentric compound is
based on some cultural conceptualizations and carries a metaphoric meaning.
The study with the help of cultural linguistics tries to answer the question
how the exocentric compounds arrive at the interpretation ‘having X’. The
data analysis proves that arriving at the meaning of ‘having X’ in the
compounds is not a mystery, if someone has the linguistic cultural background
knowledge.