Appreciating Metaphor

We are all familiar with the metaphor. It is a fundamental part of our language, to the point that we are often not aware when we are using it. The metaphor was long considered a linguistic embellishment, along with the simile, metonymy and analogy that offer alternatives to expressing the same ideas in literal language. That has now changed. With the understanding that a metaphor is a way of thinking, we have ideas like ‘conceptual mapping’ and ‘blending’, which open new ways to understand language at a deeper level and appreciate the creativity that language makes possible. We have realised that metaphorical thinking is fundamental to our ability to make sense of the world.

Beginning with the ground-breaking conceptual mapping ideas of George Lakoff, we analyse metaphors and identify the source and target domains that provide the relationships and structure within both superordinate (top-level) and basic-level metaphors. We discuss standard, widely-used and understood metaphors such as ‘life is a journey’ and ‘argument is war’. Explore the concept of the ‘conduit’ metaphor that presents language as a conduit through which words convey meaning. Explore how metaphors, such as ‘the mind is a container’ and ‘ideas are objects’, provide a new perspective on communication. Marshall McLuhan’s idea of a ‘global village’ will be critically examined in relation to the power of the internet. Gain insight into how orientational metaphors are constructed using simple prepositions in ways that bring together a multitude of meaningful relationships - all of which are firmly fixed in our everyday language.

By the end of this course, you will be able to appreciate how metaphor is both a fundamental part of the language and a powerful creative device that expands the expressive potential of the language. Discover both the artistry and the power of metaphor, gain a deeper appreciation of how you have access to a wealth of expressive potential and acquire new analytical powers to unearth the metaphorical treasures in texts and speech. Start this course and begin your linguistic journey today!