12.2 Conceptual Metaphor Theory
4 min read•july 31, 2024
explores how we understand abstract ideas through concrete experiences. It's not just about language - these metaphors shape our thoughts and actions, often without us realizing it. They're like mental shortcuts that help us make sense of complex concepts.
This theory challenges old ideas about metaphors being just fancy language tricks. Instead, it shows how they're baked into our everyday thinking. By looking at these metaphors, we can see how our brains organize information and how culture influences our understanding of the world.
Conceptual metaphors and language
Cognitive mechanisms and thought structures
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- Conceptual metaphors allow understanding one conceptual domain in terms of another, typically more concrete domain
- Operate as fundamental cognitive structures shaping thoughts, reasoning, and actions
- Function at a subconscious level, influencing perception and interpretation of abstract concepts
- Structure our conceptual system, providing a framework for understanding complex ideas through familiar experiences
- Challenge traditional views of metaphor as purely literary devices, emphasizing their pervasive nature in everyday cognition
Conceptual Metaphor Theory
- Developed by and
- Posits metaphor as a matter of thought and action, not just language
- Emphasizes pervasive nature of metaphors in everyday language and cognition
- Reflects and shapes cultural values, beliefs, and worldviews
- Influences both individual and collective thought processes
- Affects decision-making (framing political issues as "war on drugs")
- Shapes problem-solving approaches (viewing life as a "journey")
Source and target domains
Characteristics and identification
- Source domains consist of concrete, physical, or easily understood concepts
- Often draw from basic human experiences (spatial orientation, physical objects)
- Target domains comprise abstract, complex, or less tangible concepts
- Frequently include abstract concepts (time, emotions, ideas)
- Identification involves recognizing conceptual correspondence between distinct semantic fields
- Unidirectional typically occurs from to
- Example: "" (journey = source, life = target)
- Counterexample: "A journey is a life" doesn't work as a
Relationship and cognitive structures
- Analyzing source-target relationships reveals underlying cognitive structures
- Guides understanding of abstract concepts through concrete experiences
- Creates systematic mappings between domains
- Example: "" maps war concepts onto argumentation
- "Defend a position", "attack weak points", "win an argument"
- Example: "" maps war concepts onto argumentation
- Influences reasoning and interpretation of abstract ideas
- Example: "" affects how we value and manage time
- "Spend time", "save time", "invest time"
- Example: "" affects how we value and manage time
Structuring abstract concepts
Systematic organization and coherence
- Provide systematic way of organizing abstract concepts through concrete domain mapping
- Create coherent systems of metaphorical expressions reflecting underlying conceptual structure
- Allow extension and elaboration of abstract concepts in consistent ways
- Example: "" metaphor
- "Half-baked ideas", "food for thought", "digest information"
- Example: "" metaphor
- Influence reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making processes
- Example: "" affects moral judgments
- "Clean conscience", "dirty deeds", "wash away sins"
- Example: "" affects moral judgments
Highlighting and hiding aspects
- Conceptual metaphors highlight certain aspects of abstract concepts while hiding others
- Shape perception and interpretation of abstract ideas
- Example: "" highlights progression, obstacles
- Hides aspects like emotional intensity, biochemical processes
- Example: "" highlights progression, obstacles
- Different metaphors for same concept lead to varied understandings
- Example: "Love is war" vs "Love is a collaborative work of art"
- Affects how relationships are viewed and approached
- Example: "Love is war" vs "Love is a collaborative work of art"
- Analysis reveals implicit assumptions and cognitive models underlying comprehension
Cultural basis of metaphors
Embodied cognition and cultural influence
- Grounded in bodily experiences and sensorimotor interactions with environment
- Example: "" based on physical act of holding objects
- Cultural practices, beliefs, and values significantly influence formation and prevalence
- Example: "Time is money" more prevalent in capitalist societies
- Cross-cultural studies reveal universal patterns and culture-specific variations
- Universal: "Happy is up" (based on posture)
- Culture-specific: "Future is behind" in Aymara culture (based on visibility)
Evolution and transformation
- Historical and social factors contribute to evolution of conceptual metaphors
- Example: "Argument is war" metaphor evolving with changing nature of warfare
- Interplay between universal embodied experiences and cultural specificity
- Reflects complex relationship between cognition, culture, and language
- Examining cultural basis provides insights into cognitive processes underlying cultural differences
- Example: "Life is a play" in Shakespeare's works reflects Elizabethan worldview
Implications of metaphor theory
Language learning and comprehension
- Suggests learners need to acquire underlying conceptual metaphors of target language
- Enhances comprehension of idiomatic expressions and
- Example: Understanding "He's fishing for compliments" requires knowledge of "Ideas are fish" metaphor
- Explicit instruction in conceptual metaphors may facilitate more effective language use
- Cross-linguistic variations pose challenges for translation and intercultural communication
- Example: English "Time is money" vs Spanish "Time is a valuable commodity"
Pedagogical applications
- Importance of incorporating metaphor awareness in language teaching methodologies
- Provides insights into cognitive processes underlying language acquisition
- Informs development of more effective teaching strategies
- Implications for understanding difficulties in abstract reasoning and expression
- Applies to both first and second language contexts
- Potential for enhancing cultural competence through metaphor analysis
- Example: Teaching "face" concepts in Asian cultures through related metaphors
Key Terms to Review (24)
Argument is war: The phrase 'argument is war' refers to a conceptual metaphor where the structure of argumentation is understood in terms of warfare. This metaphor implies that during arguments, participants adopt combative roles, framing their discourse as a contest of opposing sides. The metaphor suggests that arguments are battles to be won rather than collaborative efforts for understanding or agreement, highlighting the competitive and adversarial nature of many discussions.
Cognitive framing: Cognitive framing refers to the way information is presented and organized, which influences how individuals interpret and respond to that information. It shapes perceptions and judgments by highlighting certain aspects while downplaying others, thus guiding thought processes and decision-making. This concept is crucial for understanding how metaphors and mental models affect communication and comprehension.
Conceptual metaphor: A conceptual metaphor is a cognitive mechanism that allows individuals to understand and experience one idea or conceptual domain in terms of another. This involves mapping the structure of one domain onto another, facilitating deeper understanding and communication. Conceptual metaphors are essential for shaping thoughts, influencing perceptions, and guiding actions, linking abstract concepts to more concrete experiences.
Conceptual Metaphor Theory: Conceptual Metaphor Theory suggests that people understand abstract concepts and experiences through metaphorical mappings from more concrete domains. This theory reveals how our language and thought processes are shaped by metaphors, which play a crucial role in how we perceive and interact with the world around us, connecting deeply to image schemas and embodied cognition.
Corpus Analysis: Corpus analysis is the study of language as expressed in samples (corpora) from real-world texts. It involves using computational tools to analyze language patterns, frequencies, and structures, helping researchers understand linguistic phenomena in context. This method allows for insights into phonological processes and metaphorical language use by examining large datasets of actual spoken or written language.
Embodied cognition: Embodied cognition is the theory that our cognitive processes are deeply rooted in the body's interactions with the world, emphasizing the role of sensory and motor systems in shaping our thoughts and understanding. This perspective highlights how physical experiences influence mental processes and knowledge, suggesting that cognition is not just something that happens in the brain but involves the entire body interacting with the environment. It connects to the understanding of language and thought as dynamic and situated in lived experience.
Experimental psychology: Experimental psychology is a branch of psychology that utilizes scientific methods to research the mind and behavior through controlled experiments. It focuses on understanding various cognitive processes, emotional responses, and social behaviors by manipulating variables and observing the outcomes in a systematic way.
Figurative Language: Figurative language refers to the use of words, phrases, or expressions that convey meanings beyond their literal interpretations, often to create vivid imagery or express complex ideas. It encompasses various forms such as metaphors, similes, personification, and hyperbole, allowing speakers and writers to communicate more effectively and creatively. This form of language is essential for understanding how concepts are structured and interconnected in our minds, as it enriches communication by evoking emotions and painting mental pictures.
George Lakoff: George Lakoff is a prominent cognitive linguist and philosopher known for his work on the relationship between language and thought, particularly in the areas of metaphor and conceptual structure. His ideas significantly shaped the understanding of how language reflects human cognition, leading to developments in cognitive linguistics that emphasize the role of embodied experience in shaping our understanding of the world.
Ideas are food: The phrase 'ideas are food' is a metaphor that suggests that ideas nourish the mind in the same way that food nourishes the body. This concept emphasizes how thoughts, knowledge, and creativity can sustain intellectual growth and development, making it essential to 'consume' a variety of ideas for a well-rounded understanding of the world.
Interaction view: The interaction view refers to a theoretical perspective that emphasizes the dynamic interplay between language and thought, suggesting that they are not separate entities but rather influence and shape one another. This perspective posits that language is not just a tool for communication but also plays a crucial role in shaping our cognition and understanding of the world around us.
Language shaping thought: Language shaping thought refers to the idea that the way we use language influences our thinking patterns, perceptions, and worldview. This concept highlights that language is not just a tool for communication but also plays a crucial role in structuring our thoughts and understanding of the world around us. Through the lens of this idea, we can see how different languages can lead to different ways of thinking, suggesting that our linguistic frameworks may shape our cognitive processes and social interactions.
Life is a journey: The phrase 'life is a journey' is a conceptual metaphor that portrays life as a path or voyage that involves various experiences, challenges, and growth. This metaphor emphasizes the dynamic and evolving nature of human existence, where individuals navigate through different stages, learn from their experiences, and seek destinations or goals along the way. It reflects the idea that life is not just about reaching an endpoint but also about the experiences and lessons learned throughout the process.
Love is a journey: The phrase 'love is a journey' refers to the metaphorical understanding of love as a dynamic process that evolves over time, characterized by various stages, challenges, and growth experiences. This concept emphasizes that love involves ongoing development and change, similar to traveling through different terrains and destinations.
Mapping: Mapping refers to the cognitive process by which one conceptual domain is understood in terms of another, allowing for the transfer of meaning and understanding between the two. This process is central to how we use metaphors, as it connects abstract concepts to more concrete experiences, facilitating deeper comprehension and communication.
Mark Johnson: Mark Johnson is a prominent philosopher and cognitive scientist known for his contributions to the fields of embodied cognition and conceptual metaphor theory. His work emphasizes the importance of bodily experiences in shaping human thought and language, challenging traditional views that separate cognition from physical experience. Johnson's research demonstrates how our understanding of concepts is rooted in our sensory and motor experiences, which influence both language and metaphorical thinking.
Mental representation: Mental representation refers to the way our minds internally visualize or symbolize information about the world, enabling us to think, reason, and communicate. These representations can take many forms, including images, concepts, and symbols, and play a crucial role in our understanding of abstract ideas through concrete experiences.
Metaphorical entailments: Metaphorical entailments refer to the implications and inferences that arise from a metaphorical expression, revealing underlying meanings that extend beyond the literal interpretation. These entailments highlight how metaphors shape our understanding of concepts by connecting them to familiar experiences or ideas, allowing us to comprehend abstract concepts through more concrete ones.
Morality is cleanliness: Morality is cleanliness refers to the metaphorical association between moral purity and physical cleanliness, suggesting that moral behavior can be understood in terms of being 'clean' or 'dirty.' This connection implies that actions deemed immoral may lead to a sense of moral contamination, while virtuous acts contribute to a sense of purity and integrity. This perspective highlights how language and thought about morality are often influenced by sensory experiences, particularly those related to hygiene and cleanliness.
Source domain: The source domain refers to the conceptual framework from which we draw analogies to understand and describe another concept, known as the target domain. This framework is essential in creating metaphors, as it provides the imagery or associations that help clarify more abstract ideas by relating them to familiar experiences. By mapping elements from the source domain onto the target domain, we can gain deeper insights into complex concepts through everyday language and thought patterns.
Substitution view: The substitution view is a perspective in language and cognition that suggests words can be substituted for each other based on their meanings or roles in a sentence. This idea highlights how language can operate at a level where specific terms can replace one another without losing the overall sense of the communication. It emphasizes the flexibility of language and how it can adapt through various substitutions, particularly in the context of metaphorical language.
Target domain: The target domain refers to the conceptual area that a metaphor aims to illuminate or explain, often being abstract and complex. In conceptual metaphor theory, it is contrasted with the source domain, which provides a more concrete understanding through familiar experiences or ideas. Understanding the target domain helps in grasping how different concepts are interrelated through metaphorical mapping.
Time is money: The phrase 'time is money' encapsulates the idea that time, much like money, is a valuable resource that can be spent or wasted. This concept highlights the economic value of time in decision-making and productivity, suggesting that using time efficiently can lead to financial gain. It connects deeply with how people perceive and prioritize their tasks and goals, reflecting a broader societal value placed on efficiency and productivity.
Understanding is grasping: Understanding is grasping refers to the cognitive process by which individuals comprehend complex concepts and ideas by relating them to familiar experiences and metaphors. This notion emphasizes that effective understanding often involves forming mental representations or 'grasping' the essence of an idea, allowing for deeper cognitive processing and integration of knowledge.