Metaphor: Its Cognitive Force and Linguistic StructureA detailed revision and refinement of the "semantic theory of metaphor," this book provides a comprehensive philosophical theory explicating metaphor's cognitive contribution. According to the author, metaphor effects a transference of meaning, not between two terms, but between two structured domains of content, or "semantic fields." Semantic fields, construed as necessary to a theory of word-meaning, provide the contrastive and affinitive relations that govern a term's literal use. In a metaphoric use, these relations are projected into a second domain which is thereby reordered with significant cognitive effects. Amply illustrated with sensitive and systematic analyses of metaphors found in literature, philosophy, science, and quotidian language, this book forges a new understanding of the relation between metaphoric and literal meaning. |
Contents
Introduction I | 1 |
Towards a Perspectival Theory | 13 |
The Identification of Metaphor | 40 |
Copyright | |
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altered ambiguity analogous anaphoric antonyms appropriate Aristotle articulated bees catachresis Chapter claim cognitive cohesive connotative semiotic constituent construal content domain context contrast set contrasts and affinities Davidson default assumptions definite description differential discourse distinction elements example expression first-order interpretation first-order meaning fish function given hyponyms identify incongruity informative content involves labels Lehrer lexical linguistic literal language malapropisms meta metaphorical interpretation metaphorical meaning metaphorical utterance metonymic midwife natural language notion object occasion meaning paradigmatic perspectival philosophy phor phorical phrase poem polysemy position possible pragmatic predicates projection rules referential relevant representation requires salient Saussurean sc-rules seal second-order interpretation second-order meaning selection restrictions semantic field semantic field theory sense sense and reference sentence signifies Socrates sort speak speaker specified structure synonymy tence Theaetetus theory of meaning theory of metaphor tion truth conditions understand utterance-type vehicle Venice verb violation word meaning