On the Integrated Descriptions of Metaphorical Sememes of Verbs

Cognitive metaphor is an important way and mechanism of semantic derivation of verbs, the resulting large number of verbal metaphorical sememes has different expressions in their semantic features, formal syntax, communicative structure and even modality and pragmatics. This paper thoroughly and carefully discusses the problem of semantic change of verbal metaphor in terms of the integrated description method of the Moscow Semantic School. Thus, we will create a unique and innovative framework and theoretical model of generalized formal feature analysis, we will also try to introduce formal semantic description and micro-level semantic interpretation into the analysis system of semantic change of the verbal metaphor. Furthermore, we will describe in detail and characterize a number of changes caused by metaphorical semantic change of Russian verbs from the perspective of multi-dimensional integration. This study breaks down the barriers between semantics, cognition, pragmatics and grammar and the traditional analysis pattern of semantic derivation which contributes to significant broadening of the theoretical semantic vision and deepening of the research of cognitive semantics problems of verbal metaphor. It also helps explore innovative analytical methods and strategies for the study of Russian lexical and syntactic semantics.

A multimodal cognitive analysis of visual metonymies in picture books featuring same-sex-parent families

Verbal metaphor and also metonymy have been theorized from a conceptual perspective since Lakoff and Johnson published Metaphors we live by in the 1980s. However, the final years of the twentieth century saw a new approach into non-verbal monomodal or multimodal tropes (Forceville & Urios-Aparisi, 2009). In an attempt to expand upon the theorization and communicative functions of visual metonymies, this study aims to explore the meaning potential of metonymic representations of characters in a sample of six picture books which portray same-sex-parent families. A multimodal cognitive approach has been adopted to find out whether, and if so how, metonymic representations of characters contribute to the positive portrayal and acceptance of same-sex-parent families in children’s picture books. The results reveal that monomodal visual metonymies are essentially used to introduce new characters in the story and highlight important aspects of the plot which boost the acceptance of non-traditional families.

Narrative metaphors in Polish perfumery discourse

The Polish perfumery discourse is permeated with various kinds of metaphors, starting with lexicalized metaphorical terms, e.g., nuta “note”, to creative, extended, and elaborated metaphors, e.g., Intensywnie doprawiony przedpokój prowadzi do cytrusowegosalonu, który jak dla mnie mógłby zajmować trochę mniej miejsca, bo najbardziej wartościowa jest kuchnia – serce domu! “Intensively flavored entrance hall leads to the citrus salon, which for me could be smaller because the most valuable is the kitchen – the heart of a home!” This paper concentrates on a specific type of verbal metaphor, used quite often in the Polish perfumery discourse, called narrative metaphor. Such narrative metaphors can encompass extensive fragments of a discourse or even a whole text. This study describes the triggers of narrative metaphors in perfumery discourse and emphasizes the importance of reference in such metaphor analysis.

Similarities and Differences between Verbal and Visual Metaphor Processing: an EEG Study

This EEG study explores similarities and differences between verbal and visual metaphor comprehension processes. The results of the study show that interpreting either a verbal stimulus or a visual stimulus metaphorically activates similar brain areas, but there are significant differences between the two in terms of neural connectivity and resource allocation patterns. A greater intra-hemispheric connectivity was observed during verbal metaphor comprehension as compared to greater inter-hemispheric connectivity during visual metaphor comprehension. Results of our novel method, called µ index, suggested a distinct information processing mechanism for metaphor in verbal and visual modalities. We found that metaphorical interpretations, especially highly creative interpretations, of visual stimuli required allocation of greater resources when compared to highly creative interpretations of verbal stimuli. Overall, these results provide a deeper insight into the multimodal nature of metaphor processing.

General image understanding in visual metaphor identification

Research on visual metaphor has rapidly developed in the wake of verbal metaphor research, focusing on the development of taxonomies for visual metaphors and the analysis of the use of visual metaphor in specialized genres. In these studies visual metaphor identification seems to be quite straightforward. However, a reliable procedure for identifying visual metaphor in all sorts of contexts still needs to be developed. The first step of such procedure is concerned with the acquisition of a general understanding of an image. In this article we explore the issues that analysts face when they look at the image and establish its general meaning.Key words: visual metaphor, metaphor identification, image description, image meaning, image understanding.Resumen Los estudios sobre metáfora visual se han sucedido a partir de la investigación en metáfora verbal, y se han centrado en el desarrollo de taxonomías de metáforas visuales y el análisis del uso de la metáfora visual en géneros concretos. En estos estudios la identificación de metáforas visuales parece una tarea sencilla. Sin embargo, estimamos necesario diseñar un método fiable que permita identificar metáforas visuales en todo tipo de contextos. El primer paso consiste en adquirir una comprensión global de la imagen. En este artículo abordamos las cuestiones que se plantean los analistas al observar una imagen y determinar su significado general. Palabras clave: metáfora visual, identificación de metáforas, descripción de la imagen, significado de la imagen, comprensión de la imagen.

The Role of Visual Metaphor in Visual Genres

In the last decades metaphor has been a paramount research topic within the Cognitive Metaphor Theory. Although initially linguistic metaphor received most attention, in recent years the research focus has shifted from verbal metaphor to other types of monomodal and multimodal metaphor (Forceville 2009). One research line has been the study of visual metaphor, i.e. metaphor instantiated through image, in specialised language, including political cartooning (e.g. El Refaie 2003), winespeak (e.g. Caballero 2009) and advertising (Forceville 2008). In the present article I examine the evaluative role of visual metaphor in two visual genres – advertising and political cartooning – through a corpus of English, French and Spanish ads and cartoons. It will be argued that while in advertising metaphor enhances the product qualities or presents it as a necessity, thus working as a persuasive tool, in cartooning metaphor shows the author’s critical stance towards a news event.

SEMANTICS AND PRAGMATICS OF VERBAL METAPHOR OF FOOD (THE SEMANTIC GROUP «FOOD CONSUMPTION WITH THE AID OF TEETH»)

The article features an analysis of semantics, pragmatics and text-based functioning of figurative vocabulary and expressions, which are metaphorically motivated by such verbs as bite, gnaw, nibble and chew. These verbs name various activities, processes and phenomena because of their analogy to food consumption with the aid of teeth. The analysis allowed the author to describe a number of cognitive metaphorical models which, in their turn, reflect the image projection from the source-domain “Food Consumption” into the conceptual spheres of physiological, mental, psychological and social phenomena. The given system of images expresses metaphorically the concept of various processes and notions related to deformation, destruction and disappearance of material objects; destructive effects on the human body and psyche; social and moral pressure (e. g. competitive struggle, repressive political system), loss of physical resources and values. The pragmatic potential of the image-bearing vocabulary and expressions is predominantly related to negative evaluative connotation since they reveal disapproving, condemning, contemptuous emotional attitude and high level of expressivity.