scholarly journals From intriguing to misleading: The ambivalent role of metaphor in modern astrophysical and cosmological terminology

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (46) ◽  
pp. 92-100
Author(s):  
Natalie Kramar ◽  
Olga Ilchenko
Keyword(s):  
Popular Literature ◽  
Popular Science ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor Theory ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Scientific Ideas

While metaphor has long been shown to pervade scientific discourse and terminology, little is known about how it affects the human comprehension of abstract concepts and underpins further development of related scientific ideas. In this article we focus on seven established terms in astrophysics and cosmology, which have also become staples of popular science, namely “big bang”, “wormhole”, “black hole”, “spaghettification”, “gravitational hair”, “fuzzball”, and “string” (in the context of string theory). We carry out etymological and contextual analysis to find out the specifics of their use in specialized and popular literature, with a particular emphasis on personification of physical entities. Also, we apply the conceptual metaphor theory to compare their source domain and target domains, identifying potentially misleading discrepancies between the two. We reveal that most of these metaphorical nominalizations invoke inaccurate and largely distorted images of the referenced entities, which are further extended and amplified with new details in scientific popularizations. We suggest that more research is needed into metaphorical terms in different disciplines to better understand their implications for the development of both expert and lay knowledge of the subject.

Conceptualizing the Self: The Role of Narratives

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-32
Author(s):  
Hari Narayanan V ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Metaphor ◽  
The Self ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor Theory ◽  
Narrative Self ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
The Difference

The paper seeks to argue that different ways in which the self is understood, even if radically distinct from one another, are cases of different narratives. This is done by appealing to conceptual metaphor theory. The paper begins by briefly explaining the difference between the minimal and narrative self and then argues that even radically different ways of understanding the self are cases of different narratives arising out of a metaphorical understanding of abstract concepts.

Metaphor, Cognition, Culture

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoltán Kövecses
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Metaphor ◽  
The Other ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor Theory ◽  
Conceptual Metaphors ◽  
Culture And Cognition ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
The One ◽  
Cultural Reality ◽  
Metaphor And Metonymy

The chapter reports on work concerned with the issue of how conceptual metaphor theory (CMT) functions as a link between culture and cognition. Three large areas are investigated to this effect. First, work on the interaction between conceptual metaphors, on the one hand, and folk and expert theories of emotion, on the other, is surveyed. Second, the issue of metaphorical universality and variation is addressed, together with that of the function of embodiment in metaphor. Third, a contextualist view of conceptual metaphors is proposed. The discussion of these issues leads to a new and integrated understanding of the role of metaphor and metonymy in creating cultural reality and that of metaphorical variation across and within cultures, as well as individuals.

Interpersonal judgments, embodied reasoning, and juridical legitimacy

2018 ◽  
pp. 862-874
Author(s):  
Somogy Varga
Keyword(s):  
Embodied Cognition ◽  
Research Program ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor Theory ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
Experimental Findings ◽  
Bodily States ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Negligible Influence

A particular branch of the embodied cognition (EC) research program explicates abstract concepts and metaphors as grounded in particular domains of bodily experience. This chapter explores conceptual metaphor theory (CMT) and some recent behavioral and neuroscientific research that appears to offer some support for it. While this research indicates that bodily states exert non-negligible influence on cognition and behavior, the influences appear to occur in a way that is insensitive to reflectively endorsed norms. Assuming that the experimental findings extend to real-life situations, the findings raise a number of questions. The chapter offers reflections on particular questions and concerns in the legal realm and explores whether the findings present potential challenges to juridical legitimacy.

scholarly journals Drawing with Metaphors. Mediating ideational content in drawing through metaphors

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Berit Ingebrethsen
Keyword(s):  
Abstract Concept ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
Visual Metaphors ◽  
Linguistic Research ◽  
Cognitive Linguistic ◽  
Educational Issue ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
Different Types ◽  
George Lakoff ◽  
The Subject

It is not easy to express abstract concepts, such as time and society, in a drawing. The subject of this article is rooted in the educational issue of visually expressing themes represented by abstract concepts. However, it is possible to find means and devices to express such ideas. This article shows how metaphors can be used to express such ideas visually. Cognitive linguistic research argues that metaphors are crucial in the verbal communication of abstract concepts. This article also attempts to show that metaphors are important in visual communication. The cognitive linguistic metaphor theory of George Lakoff and Mark Johnson is used here to investigate how metaphors are used to construct meaning in the drawings of cartoonist and illustrator Finn Graff and artist Saul Steinberg. The article presents a few examples of how visual devices structure the abstract concept of time. It then proceeds to explain how symbols function as metonymies and provides an overview of the different types of metaphors and how they are used to express meaning in drawings. The article concludes by attempting to provide new insights regarding the use of visual metaphors.

Features of using technology of project training to increase the interest of students studying biology

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-181
Author(s):  
G. Baitasheva ◽  
◽  
А. Musina ◽  
A. Issayeva ◽  
Zh. Myrzabaeva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Group Work ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Asking Questions ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Further Development

On the basis of the updated educational program were discussed issues of application of design technologies, in biology lessons in the section «Cell Biology» on the method of spiral training. Communication between parents, teachers and students is provided for in project technology. The point is that interest in the topic will increase by asking questions to parents. I was asked to voice my question, share my ideas through group work. The analysis of the works of these scientists is carried out and some stages of application are noted. In order to increase the interest of students studying the subject of biology, the specifics of the use of technology in project training are determined. In the field of biology are defined stages of work aimed at further development and consolidation of data on the topic «Cell Biology». The role of the teacher was shown. Highlighted the relationship of parents with children and friendship, communication in the classroom.

The structure of our concepts: A critical assessment of Conceptual Metaphor Theory as a theory of concepts

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peer F. Bundgaard
Keyword(s):  
Meaning Making ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor Theory ◽  
Specific Domain ◽  
Conceptual Metaphors ◽  
Cross Domain ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
George Lakoff ◽  
Experimental Findings

Abstract George Lakoff and Mark Johnson’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory is by and large a theory of what (abstract) concepts are, how they are structured, and how this structure is acquired — i.e., by mapping of structure from one more concrete or sensory-motor specific domain to another more abstract domain. Conceptual metaphors therefore rest on “cross-domain mappings.” The claims to the effect that our abstract concepts are metaphorically structured and that cross-domain mappings constitute one of the fundamental cognitive meaning-making processes are empirical and can therefore be put to the test. In this paper, I will critically assess Conceptual Metaphor Theory as a theory of concepts in light of recent experimental findings. Many such findings provide evidence for the psychological reality of cross-domain mappings, i.e., that structure activated in one domain actually can perform cognitive tasks carried out in another domain. They do not, however, support the claim that the structure of our (abstract) concepts is still metaphorical, as Lakoff and Johnson claim — that is to say, that our mind actually does perform cross-domain mappings when we process conventional conceptual metaphors such as “Death is Rest” or “Love is a Journey.” Two conclusions can be drawn from this: (1) it is necessary to distinguish between cross-domain mappings (which are psychologically real) and the metaphoric structure of our concepts (which is not, in the sense that such concepts do not any longer activate cross-domain mappings when processed); (2) Conceptual Metaphor Theory is not an adequate theory of concepts. I will therefore sketch another more viable theory of concepts where the structure of our concepts is defined as the full ecology of their situations of use, which includes the kind of situations (objects, agents, interactions) they apply to and the kind of emotional, cognitive, bodily, and behavioral responses they elicit. On this view, the contents of our concepts are to be considered as vague predicates, with vague extensions, which take on a specific form in their situation of use.

scholarly journals The role of multimodal metaphors in the creation of the fake news category: a proposal for analysis / A atuação das metáforas multimodais na criação da categoria fake news: uma proposta de análise

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 777
Author(s):  
Natália Elvira Sperandio
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Linguistics ◽  
Meaning Construction ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor Theory ◽  
Multimodal Texts ◽  
Specific Objective ◽  
Editorial Cartoons ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
Analytical Category

Abstract: Almost forty years ago, the proposal of the Conceptual Metaphor Theory represented a milestone for Cognitive Linguistics studies. From this point, many pieces of research were developed around the analytical category of metaphor. However, the majority of these papers are still in the monomodal field, intending to build a concept resulting from the source and target domains that come specifically from the verbal structures. Taking this into consideration, this paper intends to focus on the metaphorical occurrence in diverse semiotic modes that constitute multimodal texts. In order to fulfill this aim, we outlined a corpus of five editorial cartoons about “fake news”. Our specific objective is to, making use of the concept of multimodal metaphors proposed by Forceville (1996, 2009), presented how the different semiotic modes, in this case the verbal and the visual ones, are interwoven in the building of these metaphors. In this way, in our study, besides validating the thesis proposed by Forceville (2009) about the occurrence of metaphors not only in the verbal mode, it was also possible to verify the importance of multimodal metaphors for the meaning construction process in the analyzed genre.Keywords: metaphors; multimodal metaphors; fake news.Resumo: Há quase quarenta anos atrás um marco nos estudos da Linguística Cognitiva, em especial em sua semântica, ocorreu: a proposta da Teoria da Metáfora Conceitual. A partir desse trabalho, muitas pesquisas foram desenvolvidas em torno da categoria analítica da metáfora. Porém, grande parte desses trabalhos ainda encontra-se no campo dos denominados textos monomodais, visando apenas a construção conceitual resultante de domínios fonte e alvo oriundos especificamente do modo verbal. Diante disso, o presente artigo propõe-se a promover um trabalho dedicado à ocorrência metafórica nos diferentes modos semióticos que constituem os textos multimodais. Para cumprirmos tal objetivo, delineamos como corpus cinco charges que versam sobre o conceito fake news. Nosso objetivo específico consiste em apresentar, através do conceito de metáforas multimodais, proposto por Forceville (1996, 2009), a forma pela qual diferentes modos semióticos, nesse caso em especial o verbal e o imagético, imbricaram-se na construção dessas metáforas. Assim, em nosso estudo, além de vislumbrarmos a validação da proposição de Forceville (2009) sobre a não ocorrência do processo metafórico apenas no modo verbal, foi possível a verificação da importância das metáforas multimodais para a construção dos sentidos do gênero em análise.Palavras-chave: metáforas; metáfora multimodal; fake news.

scholarly journals A Three-Dimensional Spatial Metaphorical Representation of Generation Implied in Han Kin Terms

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huijuan Li ◽  
Jijia Zhang ◽  
Entao Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Information ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor ◽  
Body Movement ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor Theory ◽  
The Family ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
Spatial Terms ◽  
The Brain

Abstract concepts can be represented in the brain by means of metaphors. Generation refers to seniority in the family or clan, implies the implementation of different attitudes required by kinship, and contains profound psychological, emotional, and social factors. Generation as an abstract concept is related to concepts such as power, social status, importance, and time. The conceptual metaphor theory based on the embodied theory proposes that abstract concepts are represented by actual sensorimotor experiences. Generation implied in Han kin terms is often represented by multiple spatial terms. According to conceptual metaphor theory, the current study predicted that generation could be represented by multiple spatial metaphors. We designed six experiments to investigate this issue. The results showed that (1) the up–down and left–right positions in which kinship words were presented affected the processing of the concept of generation; (2) the processing of kinship words also affected up–down and left–right spatial information perception; and (3) the processing of the concept of generation could also automatically activate the front–back spatial operation and induce the embodied simulation of body movement. In sum, the results suggested that generation might be represented by the three-dimensional spatial metaphor of vertical, horizontal, and sagittal axes, which are influenced by the sensorimotor system.

scholarly journals A Study of Hot and Cold Metaphors in Iraqi Arabic

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-58
Author(s):  
Khalid Wahaab Jabber ◽  
Hayder Tuama Jasim Al-Saedi
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Sampled Data ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor Theory ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
Idiomatic Expressions ◽  
Abstract Domains ◽  
Arabic Speaker ◽  
Concrete Domains

The present study is an attempt to explore the ways of an Iraqi Arabic speaker conceptualises his/her understanding of various abstract domains of emotions or feeling and attitudes through his/her experiences of concrete domains of Cold and Hot metaphors. Lakoff & Johnson’s (1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory is adopted to analyse the collected data. Idiomatic expressions and proverbs are chosen specifically from the southern dialect where they are widely used in daily interaction. The data analysis classified the results according to their abstract and concrete domains of the sampled data. The findings of this study showed different conceptualisations of the Hot and Cold metaphor in Iraqi Arabic. The study concluded that these metaphors are used to conceive more of the abstract concepts of emotions, feelings, and attitudes. Cold domain is used to conceptualise the bad habits of people, and it is also used to conceptualise some good habits, on the other hand. Whereas Hot domain is used to conceptualise the more intensive of emotions and attitudes. The study concluded that the sharp emotions, feelings and attitudes that are understood from the conceptualisation of Hot and Cold conceptual metaphors, are experienced from the more concrete domains of hard things. 

scholarly journals Morphological Metaphor Mapping of Moral Concepts in Chinese Culture

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingjie Liu ◽  
Kang Li ◽  
Lina Li ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Yuerui Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor ◽  
Physical World ◽  
Chinese Characters ◽  
Moral Norms ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor Theory ◽  
Moral Concepts ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
The Right

According to conceptual metaphor theory, individuals are thought to understand or express abstract concepts by using referents in the physical world—right and left for moral and immoral, for example. In this research, we used a modified Stroop paradigm to explore how abstract moral concepts are metaphorically translated onto physical referents in Chinese culture using the Chinese language. We presented Chinese characters related to moral and immoral abstract concepts in either non-distorted or distorted positions (Study 1) or rotated to the right or to the left (Study 2). When we asked participants to identify the Chinese characters, they more quickly and accurately identified morally positive characters if they were oriented upright or turned to the right and more quickly and accurately identified immoral characters when the characters were distorted or rotated left. These results support the idea that physical cues are used in metaphorically encoding social abstractions and moral norms and provided cross-cultural validation for conceptual metaphor theory, which would predict our results.

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