Metaphors In Cognitive Linguistics

Metaphors In Cognitive LinguisticsThe temper of fable. Are tidy sum aw be of the humanskind of fictions in their prevalent croaks? very often we treat them only as stylistic devices, exactly in fact nonliteral styles vocally re benefaction the track of human thought and reasoning. People execute to apprehensionualise emotions, dear existence angiotensin converting enzyme of them, allegoryicly because both emotions and allegorys connected with them be inevitable parts of prevalent live. Without our globe exponent to categorize, we would non function at all, either in the physical mankind or in our social and intellectual lives (1990 6) explains Lak forward in Women, extract and wicked Things. gibe to Cognitive Linguistics, language is a very muscular nib as it reflects the counselling we categorize and schemeise the earth we live in. It is or so im affirmable to represent a thing without grouping it with early(a) mob members that shargon the s ame(p) properties. In doing so, we acquire different kinds of concepts and, as a result, build our general knowledge.Cognitive Linguistics allows us to examine that metaphorical persuasion is crucial to human cognition. Thus, George Lakoff and Mark Johnson in their Metaphors we live by propose a cognitive theory of metaphor, as a routine thanks to which matchless concept is understood victimization another concept (Lakoff 1980 5). The best example of this is talking roughly de best in impairment of JOURNEYS. As menti unmatchedd antecedently, our ability to categorize allowed us to gather knowledge round transits that we sight depend on in collar drive in.Zoltn Kvecses in Metaphor, A Practical Introduction expresss that we need to differentiate abstract metaphor from metaphorical linguistic sayings. He proves that the latter disclose the public of the former. Let us use a few examples to reveal the race between abstract metaphor ( small capitals) and metaphorical ve rbiages ( italics). deal IS A JOURNEYWere at the crossroads.Its been bumpy road.Our marriage is on the rocks.Were stuck.We assholet everywherethrow back now.( Kvecses 20026 )We can give everywhere that such metaphorical expressions give us insight into the metaphorical nature of the concepts that structure our everyday activities (Kvecses 2002 7).How do we conceptualise emotions? Lakoff in Women, Fire and Dangerous Things views emotions as having no conceptual content. However, I believe in that location must be some, as we ar able to advert the ecstasy of a particular emotion. Although emotional pleads and emotions ar extremely backbreaking to witness, these compendium concepts can be conceptualised with the help of to a greater extent(prenominal) cover ones (Lakoff 198059), that is wherefore bask is conceptualised in foothold of elevate or WAR (e.g. My bask is on fervour, I do not lack to blend in burned again, This enkindled approve in his heart). Con crete concepts help oneself the understanding of these complex emotions. in that respect argon m whatever examples of metaphors of come ( which I entrust try to present in the avocation chapters). They are common in everyday life as they present different facets of this powerful emotion. Without the notion of metaphor, we would not be able to comprehend such an precis sprightliness as passion. The intensity plays an essential role in the way we think of know, for instance. The conceptual metaphor get laid IS FIRE emphasizes the existence of hit the hay (on fire), its intensity (flames), duration and shows how bed affects hoi polloi (He was consumed by hunch for struggled) . Due to the existence of metaphor, the nigh powerful emotions, shaft universe one of them, can be interpreted.1.2 Source and Target DomainsSo far, we progress to managed to explain that metaphor consists of twain concepts and that we comprehend one concept in terms of another. These concepts a re called domains. According to Kvecses, conceptual metaphors tend to use abstract concept as a laughingstock and more concrete as their root system ( 20026). fuck IS A JOURNEY slam forms the target domain journey forms the bloodline domain( a conceptual domain we try ( a conceptual domain we fuck off ato comprehend) conceptual content from)As far as metaphors of grapple are concerned, many people wonder why some endearments are more popular than others. Why the expression my sweet-heart is more popular then my sweet-leg when talking to the be sockd soulfulness? Why do we use one and not the other? When we look at the endearments containing fairy-like elements the nigh common are prince-charming, my princess, my knight. Why is it like that? The answer is obvious, we choose these fairytale characters because we find some of their charactristics attractive and we want to ascribe them to the person we heat. Lakoff and Johnson direct that this kind of tendency is more regular rather than occasional (1980 67). The antecedently mentioned characters, are the SOURCE domains whereas the person to be described the quarry domain. Similarly, from fire (source in flip it off IS FIRE metaphor) love takes its intensity and from an insane person (source in approve IS MADNESS metaphor) his/her quite irresponsible and strange behaviour.The examples to a higher place show that the source domain provides us with terms inevitable to describe the target domain. As Lakoff proposes, in order to describe and understand the target domain, one must deal the knowledge of the source domain. Let us take LOVE IS A JOURNEY metaphor. We understand love because we have knowledge roughly journeys. Each era we think slightly journeys, we address pop offers, route and destination. In order to understand love in terms of a journey, one must have in mind the subject of yellowish browns as travelers, the course of their amorous kind as an act of locomotion with happy mome nts as well as obstacles (Its been bumpy road). Our knowledge astir(predicate) different kinds of journeys equips us with a powerful tool that can be employ to make the description of love richer and more adequate.1.3 MappingSo far, we have established that a conceptual metaphor consists of two domains source and target. We have in addition found out that we need to take into enumerate both domains to fully understand a conceptual metaphor. However, what does it squiffy to understand a metaphor? Kvecses explains that the knowledge of correspondences between these two domains is demand to comprehend a conceptual metaphor. We touch to these conceptual analogies as MAPPINGS ( Kvecses 2002 6). Let us take one example concerning metaphor of love to see how the mapping can function.We cannot treat back now.When we use the expression cannot turn back, we reveal that we are not going to change the stress and destination of our journey. We refers to people involved in a journey. Tha t is how we get tod three necessary elements of a journey a destination, travelers and a journey as such. However, when we hand an appropriate context to the sentence, we will get a new consequence of it. We will understand the self-coloured sentence to be about love. Thus, the travelers are lovers who discuss things that are happening in their relationship bandage cannot turn back can be interpreted as a plaza when lovers cannot change the course of events that happened to them.JOURNEY LOVETHE SOURCE DOMAIN THE TARGET DOMAINWe- travelers We-loversJourney Romantic relationshipDestination of a journey making lovers aims or goalsDifficulties that travelers encounter Obstacles in the relationshipThe example above shows that the understanding of a conceptual metaphor goes from more concrete (the journey) to the more abstract concept (events in the relationship) (Kvecses 2002 6). much(prenominal) a rule was called The Principle of Unidirectionality .1.4 figurative Systematicity Highlightning and HidingWe have already learnt that there is a systematicity that allows us to understand one concept in terms of another (e.g. interpreting reading of love in terms of a journey or the intensity of love in terms of fire) (Lakoff, Johnson 198010). However, what does systematicity mean? When we talk about love in terms of a journey, we use vocabulary that is normally employ when discussing travelling e.g. We are at the crossroads. We can see that there is a kind of a pattern we tend to use. Thus, systematicity is a pattern that affects the way we talk about love, allo realizeg us to use words or phrases that antecedently had been used to refer to different concepts (Lakoff 1980 7).Kvecses points out that when a metaphor concentrates on one or more features of a concept, it highlights those features. However, when one sentiment of a given concept is highlighted, the other ones will be mystical (2002 80). Checking which features are highlighted or hidden in the fol lowing metaphors of love will give more light to this interesting issue.LOVE IS SUBSTANCEShe was modify with love.He poured out his affections on her.She couldnt hold in her love for him any longer.LOVE IS NATURAL ramShe swept me off my feet.Waves of passion came over him.She was carried away by love.(Lakoff 1980 49)As we can see conceptual metaphors create and describe the target domain by directing attention at or hiding different angles of it. Thus, in LOVE IS SUBSTANCE metaphor, the scene of content is highlighted, whereas the possible chance of development of a romantic feeling is concealed. The examples of LOVE IS A NATURAL FORCE metaphor reveal that love cannot be controlled as well as show the intensity of the emotion. However, the aspect of an emotional enrichment, which is withal present when people stimulate such an overtake feeling, is hidden.1.5 Structural metaphorsSo far we have found out that metaphors are not discussed only as poetic devices but as shipway of our thinking and understanding abstract concepts. We can distinguish three kinds of metaphors structural, ontological and penchantal.In ontological metaphors experiences are interact as concrete objects e.g. containers (I vaga bond a lot of energy into preparing decorations) . When we deal with them in such a way we can refer to them, categorize them, group them, and quantify them and, by these means, reason about them (Lakoff 198025).The group of orientational metaphors is said to be connected with our orientation in space. Concepts are connected with physical orientation, for instance happiness is up (Im feeling up) and sadness is down (Im feeling down) (Lakoff198016).Structural metaphor is the most productive type of all conceptual metaphors. thank to these metaphors, complex and abstract experiences can be understood in terms of simpler and more concrete ones e.g. LOVE IS A JOURNEY. In Metaphors we live by Lakoff and Johnson assure that the conceptual system is metaphorical in nature (19804). What does it mean, how can it structure the world we live in and how does it influence our activities? Let us take LOVE IS FIRE metaphor as an example.My heart is on fire.He was consumed by love.I do not want to get burned again.That kindled love in his heart.Thanks to the metaphorical expression That kindled love in his heart, we can conceptualise love as having a showtime and an end just as fire has. When the fire is kindled, the love begins when it goes out, the love ends.These examples also prove that we not only talk about love in terms of fire. The lover can be consumed by love when he/she is so in love that it is all that he/she thinks about. If the lover does not want to get burned again it whitethorn mean he/she does not want to experience the same serious dissapointment subsequently(prenominal) an unsuccessful relationship. Due to the fact that the essence of metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another (Lakoff 1 9805), we can conclude that love is structured and understood (Lakoff 19805) in terms of fire.1.6 Container Metaphors and Personification some other kind of a conceptual metaphor has been called by Lakoff and Johnson the container metaphor. In container metaphors globe are viewed as containers with boundaries and an orientation of inside and outside f.e. She was filled with love (Lakoff 198029). As far as non-physical objects are concerned, they can also be comprehended by psychicly converting them into physical ones. Let us view our world as a container with borders separating the inside from the outside. It is clear when we take into musing objects that have natural or artificial boundaries, for instance rooms. However, when we talk about our emotional states or conditions e.g. He is in love, the matter is not so obvious. Lakoff and Johnson suggest that we tend to conceptualise our emotions as containers, whereas the way we feel when we experience particular emotions is concep tualised as being inside the container (198030). Emotions can be also comprehended in terms of substances e.g. His heart was filled with love (Bierwiaczonek 2002140). As Bierwiaczonek points out heart and eyes are most frequently used as containers for emotions being understood with the help of substances (2002140).A crucial as well as interesting group of ontological metaphors are those describing something as a person personifications (Lakoff 1980 33). This means that we ascribe human features to non-living objects. insureing at metaphors of love, we are overwhelmed with a feeling that love has been personified in many metaphorical expressions. The following are only the most common examples. have it off can give you hope. cognize can be blind.Love can be tender.What is even more appealing, love can go through with(predicate) the same stages as humans do in the course of life, love comes to life, it lasts and dies.ReferencesLakoff, George. 1990. Women, Fire and Dangerous Things. What Categories RevealAbout the Mind. Chicago University of Chicago Press.Lakoff, George and Mark Johnson. 1980. Metaphors we live by. Chicago University ofChicago Press.Kvecses, Zoltn, 2002. Metaphor, A Practical Introduction. Oxford University Press,Inc.George Lakoff, 1993. Contemporary system of Metaphor. In Andrew Ortony, (ed.)Metaphor and Thought, 202-251. New York Cambridge University Press.McGlone, M.S. 1996. Conceptual Metaphors and Figurative Language interpretationFood for Thought? Journal of Memory and Language, 35, 544-565.CHAPTER 2THE CHARACTERIZATION OF METAPHORS OF LOVEThe models of loveIn the previous chapter we have managed to understand that thanks to metaphor, which is a crucial part of our everyday life, we are able to conceptualise the world we live in. We have admitted that metaphor cannot be treated only as a stylistic device because as Reddy suggests the locus of metaphor is thought, not language (in Lakoff 1980 204). Such an idea proves that our reasoni ng as well as our behaviour reflect the way we metaphorically comprehend everything that happens in our lives. tidy emotions, love being one of them, are inevitable parts of the human existence thus metaphors such as LOVE IS FIRE or LOVE IS A CONTAINER help us to understand this overwhelming feeling. very often love is seen as a kind of an award we get, something that enables us to do things we are normally afraid to do as it equips us with extra power. According to Kvecses (in Bierwiaczonek 200225) we distinguish two models of love model and typical. Having in mind that only ideal love provides us with the previously mentioned power, it is not difficult to guess what kind of love we look for. In the ideal model of love, lovers see themselves as a unity (e.g. We are one) as they complement each other. They are imbued with the feelings that their love is a unbent one, that they were created to live together and that their love is immortal. The lovers believe that there is an emoti onal bond between them, which enables them to live in a perfect harmony. Needless to say, there are certain psychological effects that occur when we are in love increased body heat, blushing, increased heart rate (2002 25).There are many categories of love, however five of them are the most common.Bierwiaczonek (200228) presents the following kinds of loveFAMILY LOVE PARENTAL and CHILDS LOVE OF PARENTS, the family love is revealed through the vex and attention that parents give their children and vice versa (e.g. Mother muzzled my cheek) FRIENDSHIP, great liking for someone, companionship constitutes an emotional bond between people, it can even complement knowledgeable love, give a new meaning to it and enrich partners realationship SEXUAL LOVE, familiar passion AGAPE, Gods admiration, Christian love and LOVE OF THINGS, fondness for material possessions (e.g. His love was money.)Most of the metaphors of love postulate sexual love, thus for the purpose of the take to the woods we will discuss only these types of metaphors.Metaphors of love2.2.1 Metaphors of loversMetaphors of lovers are very matter to kinds of metaphors since they highlight the aspect of lovers who are involved in a romantic relationship (Bierwiaczonek 2002112). In the metaphor LOVE IS A UNITY, the metaphorical expression We are one indicates that lovers are parts of a whole. Similarly, the metaphor LOVE IS A JOURNEY shows lovers as travelers, whereas the metaphor LOVE IS WAR presents them as participants in a war or even opponents.LOVERS ARE part OF A WHOLEShe is my better half They are unseparable There is a strong bond between them(Bierwiaczonek 2002113)The examples above prove that we can discuss lovers or think about them as parts of a bigger whole. Although metaphors reflecting our emotional states are used spontaneously, not all combinations are possible. The metaphorical expression She is my better half perfectly suits when we consider she as a lover. When we think of she as a family member e.g. My mum is my better half, the whole expression sounds ridiculous (Bierwiaczonek 2002113).There are also metaphors emphasizing the behaviour of lovers f.g. LOVERS ARE BIRDS (f.e. Look at those two lovebirds on the bench). In LOVE IS MADNESSmetaphor, lovers are presented as insane people mainly collectible to the intensity of love which makes them behave irresponsibly or, in extreme cases, lovers may lose control over themselves (e.g. He has gone mad about her).2.2.2 Love is a journey metaphorSo far, the analysis of conceptual metaphor enabled us to explain that such an abstract feeling as love can only be comprehended with the help of metaphor. Which metaphors of love can facilitate the understanding of contemporary world? How do people conceptualise these metaphors?LOVE IS A JOURNEYIts been a long, bumpy road.Look how far we have come.We are at a crossroads.I do not think this relationship is going anywhere.We are stuck.Our marriage is on the rocks.We have gotten off the track.Well just have to go our recognise ways.(Lakoff 198045)As mentioned in the first chapter, people use concrete concepts to understand more abstract ones (Kvecses 20026). Such a tendency justifies the fact of using the concept of a journey when trying to comprehend love. Worth mentioning is also the variety of metaphorical expressions concerning different types of journeys. When talking about love, people can refer to train travel (e.g. We have gotten off the track), car travel (e.g. We are at the crossroads) and sea travel (e.g. Our marriage is on the rocks) (Lakoff 198045). Such a diversity makes the verbal reflection of our emotions richer and, as a result, the pictures created in mind are more vivid.SOURCE- JOURNEYTARGET- LOVELove is war metaphorLOVE IS WARHe is known for his many speedy conquestsHe is slowly gaining ground with herHe fought for him but his mistress won outHe overpowered herShe is besieged by suitorsHe has to fend them offHe made an ally of her fat her( Lakoff 198049)LOVE IS WAR metaphor is an example of a strutural metaphor, the metaphor which facilitates understanding an abstract concept of love using the concept of war. As far as war is concerned, we consider the following issues two fighting sides, the result of the fight and the fight itself. In LOVE IS WAR metaphor, such components respectively refer to the lovers, the result of the verbal battle and the disagreement between lovers.SOURCE- WAR The above examples clearly emphasize the existence of the fight between the lovers f.e. He overpowered her. However, the fact of cooperation, which is also present during the war, is hidden. The lovers are shown as opponents trying to fight for their rights. According to Lakoff (1980 61-67), our language is an expression of our thoughts and feelings. Treating them as parts of our personality, we can fool that LOVE IS WAR metaphor shows one aspect of our personality- willingness to fight for what we consider crucial to our well-bei ng.TARGET- LOVELove is magic metaphorLOVE IS MAGICShe cast her spell over meShe had me hypnotizedI was entranced by himShe is bewitchingI was transfixed(Lakoff 198049)From the dawn of history people have been intrigued by magic. On one hand they saw impossible things taking place in expect of their eyes, on the other hand their common sense forbade them to believe in such miracles. Although, it is not primal whether humans belive in magic or not, what is important is the fact that people are not indifferent to it. deceit affects people and fascinates them profoundly. Women especially are said to have the power to pretend men, hypnotize them or even, cast spells on them. As love is treated almost as a magical and inexplicable phenomenon, it is not difficult to understand why LOVE is comprehended in terms of MAGIC. LOVE IS MAGIC metaphor definitely emphasises the existence of an almost magical conncection that bonds lovers, eyepatch hiding the aspect of the mortality of partners and their inability to use magic.SOURCE- MAGICTARGET- LOVELove is madness metaphorLOVE IS MADNESSIm crazy about herShe drives me out of my mindHe has gone mad over herIm just wild about HarryHe constantly raves about her(Lakoff 1980 49)In LOVE IS MADNESS metaphor love is presented as a state of insanity. When one is in love, she/he experiences certain kinds of emotions which are, in fact, similar to amiable states of madness. Only intensity differentiates these emotions from each other. Each time we go through them, we have symptoms indicating a psychological illness.Very often the object of love is treated as a cause of a particular feeling or illness (e.g. She drives me out of my mind). One in love is shown as an insane person (e.g Im crazy about her) and a feeling of love as an illness itself.LOVE IS MADNESS metaphor directs our attention at the profound effect that love has on people, thus humans tend to compare it to the state of madness. However, the metaphor refuses to high light the ability to create plans for the partners afterlife and the aspect of a fruitful cooperation which are also present in a romantic relationshipSOURCE- MADNESSTARGET- LOVELove is a patient metaphorLOVE IS A PATIENTThis is a spit relationshipThey are a strong, healthy marriageTheir marriage is dead, it cannot be revivedWe are getting back on our feetTheir marriage is on its last legs(Lakoff 1980 49)We have already mentioned that lovers are treated as a unity (e.g. We are one). The existence of a unity between spouses indicates the tenet that they are very one person. Due to the fact that a person in love can suffer from symptoms of an illness, we can assume that lovers are patients. The patients health state represents the state of the relationship or marriage. Although the physical and mental condition of the relationship is revealed, the possible ways of heal the marriage are concealed. All of us have experienced an illness at least once in our life-time. However each i llness, even the smallest one, is treated as something new. As far as love is concerned, each new relationship is worth taking care of because as Hubert H. Humphrey said The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love. Love can make us feel sick, but it is also able to heal our hearts and souls.SOURCE- PATIENTTARGET- LOVELove is fire metaphorLOVE IS FIREI dont want to get burned again.My hearts on fire.That kindled love in his heart.She is his in style(p) flame.He was consumed by love.(Lakoff 1980 49)Humans describe love as a one of the most vivid and powerful feelings we experience, that is why we use so many metaphors in order to describe the aspects of this overwhelming emotion. However, LOVE IS FIRE metaphor is the most significiant as far as the intensity of love is concerned. As we have observed the intensity of the emotion is highlighted, whereas the possibility of a regeneration after an unfortunate relationship is hidden (people, things cannot revive after being utter ly damaged by flames). Thanks to this conceptual metaphor, people can connect different phases of fire burning with different stages of being in love. Such a conceptualisation explains that love, as well as fire, has its beginning, duration and the end. The damage caused by the intensity of fire can refer to the lovers psychological damage because of the disappointment in love.SOURCE- FIRETARGET- LOVELove is a physical force metaphorLOVE IS A animal(prenominal) FORCEHe was magnetically drawn to herHis whole life revolves almost herThe atmosphere around them is always chargedThey gravitated to each other at onceI could feel the electricity between us(Lakoff 1980 49)Intensity, being one of the most siginficant features of love, enables us to use forces such as magnetism, gravity and electicity while talking about this powerful emotion. LOVE IS A PHYSICAL FORCE metaphor definitely highlights an imperious aspect of love over other emotions that people can feel. In this metaphor, huma ns conceptualize love as a force majeure, something that they cannot control or have an influence on. If we assume that such a feeling as love cannot be controlled, we have to admit that also lovers cannot be restricted. The existence of magnetism between them signifies the prerequisite of living together or expense as much time as possible with each other whereas electricity between lovers presents the power of love that bonds them.SOURCE-A PHYSICALFORCETARGET- LOVE2.2.9 Love is a rapture metaphorLOVE IS A RAPTUREIm giddy with loveIve been high on love for weeksShe is drunk with loveHe is intoxicated with love(Lakoff 198049)The examples above present love as a state of an ecstasy caused by drugs or alcohol. The existence of such a metaphor proves that the behaviour of people who are in love resembles the conduct of those being on a drug- induced high. Although lovers do not usually take any narcotic stimulants, they indeed show symptoms of an addiction. A constant thinking about the object of love, a difficult to understand happiness when spending time with each other or a determination to win the beloveds heart are symptoms which may be misunderstood and the person present them may be accused of using illegal stimulants. However, in everyday situations humans realize that love has such an impact on those experiencing it that they actually can act irresponsiby.SOURCE RUPTURETARGET- LOVEThere are many different kinds of metaphors of love presenting various aspects of this overwhelming feeling. I have chosen only a few of them, the most fascinating and dubious ones. The analysis of the metaphors of love proved that this feeling is difficult to comprehend because of its complexity. By trials and errors I have realized that it is impossible to present all the possible sides of this powerful emotion. Love affects people profoundly and therefore it is very important for them. That is why they try to comprehend this abstract feeling using more concrete concepts such as a journey, war or fire. Thanks to metaphors we create in our minds the breathtaking pictures of an incredible world we live in.