Metaphor In Focus

This book is a philosophical guide on metaphor use. Previous research concerning metaphors has focused on either the theoretical-linguistic problems or the uses in specific research fields. Although these domains share some common interests, there has been little cross-communication. The aim of this volume is to bridge the gap between the theoretical and the empirical side of the research on metaphor use, by analysing the role of metaphor over different domains of use. Therefore, while adopting a theoretical-philosophical point of view, the volume also presents the interdisciplinary connections between philosophy and other academic areas such as linguistics, cognitive science, discourse analysis, communication studies, didactics, economics, arts and political science.

This book contains a selection of refereed and revised papers originally presented at the 5th ICLC. After an introduction by the editors, the book opens with a long-needed chapter on historical precedents for the Cognitive Linguistic theory of metaphor. Two chapters demonstrate the method of lexical analysis of linguistic metaphors and how it can be fruitfully applied to a characterization of the conceptual domains of smell and economics. Three chapters deal with theoretical aspects of conceptual metaphor, one of which is a commissioned chapter on the relation between conceptual metaphor theory and conceptual blending. Finally there are five chapters presenting novel theoretical issues and empirical findings about the relation between conceptual metaphor and culture. This book is hence a wide-ranging sample of current approaches to metaphor in Cognitive Linguistics, with some chapters breaking new grounds for future research.

The purpose of this book is to provide a comprehensive philosophical theory which explains the cognitive contribution of metaphor. The argument is illustrated with analysis of metaphors from literature, philosophy, science, and everyday language.

Metaphor and Metonymy at the Crossroads is a collection of essays, most of them written from a cognitive linguistics standpoint by leading specialists in the fields of conceptual metaphor and metonymy, and conceptual integration (blending). The book has two main goals. One of them is to discuss in new, provocative ways the nature of these conceptual mappings in English and their interaction. The other goal is to explore by means of several detailed case studies the central role of these mappings in English. The studies are, thus, concerned with the operation of metaphor and metonymy in discourse, including literary discourse or with the effect of metaphorical and/or metonymic mappings on some aspects of linguistic structure, be it polysemy or grammar. The book is of interest to students and researchers in English and linguistics, English literature, cognitive psychology and cognitive science.

This groundbreaking work adopts an alternative metaphor-based approach to challenge, unpack, and redefine our understanding of persuasion and strategic communication and the extents to which they shape political discourse. The book’s theoretical and methodological grounding in metaphor allows for an alternative perspective on strategic communication but also a robust discussion of both persuasion and other kinds of related discursive processes at work in political communication, including narrative, identification, and ideology. The volume integrates case studies from prominent political discourses, including those of George W. Bush, Jr., Tony Blair, and Barack Obama, to highlight the crucial role of persuasion management and sustainability in the public sphere and the ways in which it might inform political action and change in a positive way. Broadening our perception of the possibilities of persuasion and strategic communication, this dynamic volume is key reading for students and scholars in communication studies, political science, rhetoric, and cognitive linguistics.

Combining up-to-date scholarship with clear and accessible language and helpful exercises, Metaphor: A Practical Introduction is an invaluable resource for all readers interested in metaphor. This second edition includes two new chapters--on 'metaphors in discourse' and 'metaphor and emotion' --along with new exercises, responses to criticism and recent developments in the field, and revised student exercises, tables, and figures.

The objective of this book is to understand variation in political metaphor. Political metaphors are distinctive and important because they are used to achieve political goals: to persuade, to shape expectations, to realize specific objectives and actions. The analyses in the book go beyond the mere identification of conceptual metaphors in discourse to show how political metaphors function in the real world. It starts from the finding that the same conceptual domains are used to characterize politics, political entities and political issues. Yet, the specific metaphors used to describe these conceptual domains often change. This book explores some of the reasons for this variation, including features of political leaders (e.g., their age and gender), countries, and other sociopolitical circumstances. This perspective yields a better understanding of the role(s) of metaphors in political discourse.

This book demonstrates how metaphor needs to be researched using multiple methods of investigation.