The first question that arises is in the context of „Metaphor and Culture“ is what metaphor actually has to do with culture. This question can be answered in the way that metaphor and culture are related in many ways. Metaphor can be viewed as the ornamental use of language, and a lot about metaphor and culture arises from what
we have heard or learned in school about it, such as for instance creative writers or poets who use metaphors. Since literature is a significant part of our culture, metaphor can be regarded as intimately linked to our socio-cultural field. So a possible way of relation between metaphor and culture would be literature, an
exemplary manifestation of culture. However, there are in fact much more fundamental relations between metaphor and culture, which become clear when we look at some currrent thinking in anthropology, which leads us to the fact that we can view culture as a set of shared understandings that characterize smaller or larger groups of people (cf. Shore 1996, Strauss & Quinn 1997). It has to be noted that this is obviously not an exhaustive view or definition of culture, considering the fact that it leaves out real artifacts, real objects, practices, institutions, actions and so on, which people participate in and use in various cultures. However, it integrates a large part of it, namely the shared understanding that human beings have in connection with all of these „things“.
Table of content
Introduction
1.A cross-cultural study of animal metaphors: when owls are not wise
2.Causes of Variation in Metaphor: Differential Experience
2.1.Awareness of context
2.2.Physical environment
2.3.Social Context
2.4.Cultural context
2.5.Communicative situation
2.6.Differential memory and the role of history
2.7.Differential concerns and interests
Frequently Asked Questions
How are metaphor and culture related?
Metaphor and culture are linked through literature and shared understandings. Metaphors often reflect the socio-cultural field and the shared meanings of a group.
What can animal metaphors reveal about a culture?
Cross-cultural studies of animal metaphors show how different societies attribute different qualities to the same animal (e.g., owls not always being wise), reflecting local beliefs.
Which factors cause variation in metaphors across cultures?
Variation is caused by differential experiences in the physical environment, social context, cultural values, history, and specific communicative situations.
Is metaphor just an ornamental use of language?
While often viewed as ornamental in literature, metaphors are actually fundamental cognitive tools that structure how we understand the world.
How does the physical environment influence metaphors?
The geography and climate of a region provide the source domains for metaphors, meaning people in different environments use different imagery to describe abstract concepts.
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- Bachelor Katharina Eder (Autor), 2009, Metaphor and Culture, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/171958
