Published In

Metaphor and Symbol

Document Type

Post-Print

Publication Date

11-17-2009

Subjects

Context (Linguistics), Metaphor -- Interpretation, Comparative and general grammar -- Connectives

Abstract

The model proposed in this article merges the cognitive and social elements of metaphor use and interpretation in the cognitive representation of mutual cognitive environment (Sperber & Wilson, 1986/1995) or common ground (Clark, 1996). The proposed principle of metaphor interpretation is based on the interaction of both vehicle and topic with the common ground. Because common ground is inherently problematic, it is rarely accurate to discuss "the meaning of" a metaphor, as if metaphors must have a single well-specified meaning. Each metaphor is interpreted in the particular communicative context in which it is encountered, and individual interpretations will not necessarily match unless the individuals' cognitive representations of the common ground are similar. The proposed model is consistent with several other theories of metaphor interpretation, but it explicitly acknowledges the need for interpretive processes to be context specific and neurologically embodied, and avoids the problem of circularity (Ritchie, 2003b).

Rights

Copyright © 2004, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Description

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Metaphor and Symbol. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Metaphor and Symbol, 19:4, pages 265-287.

DOI

10.1207/s15327868ms1904_2

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/8568

Download

Included in

Communication Commons

Share

COinS