3 Conceptual metaphor Flashcards
The Lakoffian metaphor, explanation
According to Lakoff, metaphors aren’t just a characteristic of language but they influence the way we think and act. Metaphorical expressions are systematically tied to metaphorical concepts, which make up a conceptual system. This system has major influence in our thoughts and actions and it is metaphorical in nature.
Since communication is determined by that same system, studying the way we speak and act is a way to understand how our conceptual system work and how metaphors influence actions.
The Larkoffian metaphor, definition
The essence of metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another
Contemporary theory on metaphor
According to the contemporary theory metaphor is primarily conceptual, conventional, and part of the ordinary system of thought and language. This view can be traced back to Reddy’s Conduit Metaphor. He believes that:
1) The locus of metaphor is thought, not language
2) Metaphor is an essential part of the way we conceptualize the world
3) Our everyday behavior reflects our metaphorical understanding of events
Classical theory on metaphor
Classical theory is based on the outdated distinction between literary and figurative. Overall:
1) Metaphor is a matter of language
2) It was believed to be out of the realm of everyday language
3) This theory was accepted as true and over time became the definition of metaphor
Contemporary definition of metaphor and meaning of “metaphorical expression”
In contemporary theory a metaphor is defined as a cross-domain mapping in the conceptual system. The term metaphorical expression refers to a linguistic expression (a word, phrase, etc.) that is the surface realization of such a cross-domain mapping.
Literal vs. metaphorical
The old literal-metaphorical distinction is based on outdated assumptions, but we can still differentiate. The concepts that don’t need conceptual interpretation can be referred to as literal. Metaphorical understanding comes into play when we start talking about abstractions or emotions.
Mapping and mnemonic
Is there a general principle that we apply when we interpret metaphors? Yes, we build a metaphorical scenario. The metaphor can be understood as a mapping (funzione) from a source domain to a target domain. The mapping is tightly structured, and we can identify ontological correspondences between the two domains that appear systematically. Interpreting a metaphor means understanding [target domain] in terms of [source domain].
To identify this mapping, we use a short sentence called mnemonic. Mnemonics can be: TARGET-DOMAIN IS SOURCE - DOMAIN or TARGET-DOMAIN AS SOURCE-DOMAIN
Mnemonic ≠ mapping: the mnemonic is the name, the mapping is the set of correspondences.
Characteristics of metaphors according to contemporary theory
1) Metaphors aren’t just words, the CORE of the metaphor is the CONCEPTUAL MAPPING
2) Metaphors are also a PRODUCTIVE DEVICE, the existence of a conceptual mapping allows us to understand novel extensions of conventional metaphors
3) Mappings usually occur with MOTIVATION and idioms are an example of this: in classical theory their meaning is arbitrary, in the contemporary one they can fit multiple patterns within one mapping
Hierarchy
Mappings tend to stay at the superordinate level rather than the more specific, basic one (A relationship is compared to a vehicle, not specifically to a car). This is because it maximizes the possibilities for building specific cases.
Basic semantic concepts as metaphors
If basic concepts are abstract, they can become source for a conceptual metaphor. When that happens, the mapping involving that specific concept becomes prevalent in the language. Things that can become metaphors:
- CATEGORIES: as containers, they inherit their characteristics
- QUANTITIES (more is up and less is down) and LINEAR SCALES associated to paths
- FORCE-IMAGES
This leads us to observe that MAPPINGS TAKE THE TOPOLOGY OF THE SOURCE DOMAIN AND APPLY IT TO THE TARGET DOMAIN. Let’s take a path mapping as an example: the beginning of said path will always be associated to the beginning in the target domain.
Invariance principle
Metaphorical mappings preserve the COGNITIVE TOPOLOGY (that is, the image-schema structure) OF THE SOURCE DOMAIN, in a way consistent with the inherent structure of the target domain.
Target domain override
An effect of the Invariance Principle is that the image-schema structure of the target domain can’t be violated, therefore the structure of the target domain limits the possible mappings. If there is a part of the source domain that can’t be transferred to the target, then it will not appear as part of the metaphor.
The mappings of time
In English, TIME is conceptualized in terms of SPACE and MOTION, which can be characterized in two ways: MOTION OF AN OBJECT (time itself moves), MOTION OVER LANDSCAPE (the observer moves through time in a forward motion). The object-location pair is common in metaphors, and the general phenomenon of a metaphor being associated to two things is called DUALITY.
Given that some metaphors have this characteristic, it is possible for two different parts of a sentence to make use of distinct mappings at once to characterize different aspects of the target domain. For example: “within (time as something the observer is in) the coming (time as something moving) weeks”
Hierarchy across multiple mappings
Mappings commonly occur together and when that happens they can be organized in hierarchical structures, in which lower mappings get their structure from the higher one. An example:
Level 1: The Event Structure Metaphor (vedi slide)
Level 2: A PURPOSEFUL LIFE IS JOURNEY
Level 3: LOVE IS A JOURNEY; A CAREER IS A JOURNEY
Two types of mappings: SPATIALIZATION and PHYSICALIZATION
- SPATIALIZATION: mapping something as a physical space
- PHYSICALIZATION: mapping an abstract concept as a physical one
