Metaphor or the war on words – a critical analysis of the theory of conceptual metaphors

Term Paper (Advanced seminar) , 2007 , 23 Pages , Grade: 1,0

English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics

Language is versatile. Language is complex. Language can be a mystery. For example, why do we say chair leg although legs are usually thought of being a part of the human body or an animal? Why do we refer to the ground where a river runs through as a river bed? Is a bed not usually an object that we use to sleep in? And why is it that we can say I’m surfing the web although surfing typically means to ride one’s board on ocean waves? The news report says, The Iraq democracy is in its infancy. Would we not typically use infancy when we talk about children, or refer to a person’s childhood? If we consider the above examples, we can easily draw the conclusion that these words – besides their original meaning – can be used “outside of their natural environment”. Words and their meaning can be transferred to a different domain. The name for such a transfer is metaphor. [...] This paper will highlight Lakoff’s and Johnson’s major claim that metaphor is not only a poetic device, or simply a (linguistic) matter of spoken words, but that “our ordinary conceptual system, in terms of which we both think and act, is fundamentally metaphorical in nature” (Lakoff & Johnson 1980: 3). I shall explain some of the most important devices of their theory, such as target, source, and mapping and briefly elucidate the systematicity that underlies metaphorical conceptualization. The analysis of the conceptual metaphor, LOVE IS A JOURNEY, will reveal some ambiguities about Lakoff’s and Johnson’s theory. By doing this, I will consider some of the major critiques and analyze whether there is an underlying conceptual metaphoric system in our everyday language.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
• Conceptual metaphors: target & source, mapping and the systematicity of metaphorical concepts
• Problems in reasoning: LOVE IS A JOURNEY
• Coherence and consistency
• Problem of multiple metaphors
• Conclusion and outlook
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This paper aims to critically analyze the theory of conceptual metaphor, as proposed by Lakoff and Johnson, and to explore its implications for our understanding of language, thought, and reality. The paper will examine the core concepts of the theory, including the mapping between source and target domains, the systematicity of metaphorical concepts, and the role of metaphor in everyday language and thought.

• The nature of conceptual metaphor and its role in language and thought
• The mapping process between source and target domains
• The systematicity of metaphorical concepts
• The implications of conceptual metaphor for our understanding of reality
• Criticisms and limitations of the theory of conceptual metaphor

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The introduction provides an overview of the concept of metaphor and its significance in language and thought. It introduces the work of Lakoff and Johnson and their groundbreaking theory of conceptual metaphor. The chapter also discusses the pervasiveness of metaphors in everyday language and the implications of this for our understanding of reality.

The second chapter delves into the core concepts of Lakoff and Johnson's theory, including the distinction between source and target domains, the mapping process between these domains, and the systematicity of metaphorical concepts. It examines how metaphors are not simply linguistic devices but rather reflect underlying conceptual structures.

The third chapter focuses on the specific conceptual metaphor LOVE IS A JOURNEY, analyzing its implications and potential problems. It explores the coherence and consistency of this metaphor and examines whether it accurately reflects our understanding of love.

The fourth chapter discusses the problem of multiple metaphors and their potential for conflict or inconsistency. It examines how different metaphors can be used to understand the same concept and the implications of this for our understanding of reality.

Schlüsselwörter

The keywords and focus themes of the text include conceptual metaphor, target domain, source domain, mapping, systematicity, LOVE IS A JOURNEY, coherence, consistency, multiple metaphors, and the implications of conceptual metaphor for our understanding of language, thought, and reality.

• College: University of Heidelberg (Anglistisches Seminar )
• Course: Hauptseminar Cognitive Linguistics
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Markus Bulgrin (Author)
• Publication Year: 2007
• Pages: 23
• Catalog Number: V113676
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640141524
• ISBN (Book): 9783640141647
• Language: English
• Tags: Metaphor, Hauptseminar, Cognitive, Linguistics