1 Conceptual Metaphor Topics in Linguistics © 2007 Juno Lin

2 Conceptual Metaphor 概念式隱喻 Why metaphor? “The essence of metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another.” (Lakoff, G., Johnson, M. (1980) Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, p. 5)

3 Professor of cognitive linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley George Lakoff & Mark Johnson Knight Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Oregon “Metaphor has been seen within the Western scientific tradition as purely a linguistic construction, but Lakoff and Johnson argue that metaphors are primarily a conceptual construction, and indeed are central to the development of thought. Lakoff says, ‘Our ordinary conceptual system, in terms of which we both think and act, is fundamentally metaphorical in nature’… People do not notice these metaphors for various reasons. One reason is that some metaphors become 'dead' and we no longer recognize their origin. Another reason is that we just don't ‘see’ what is ‘going on’.” George Lakoff. May 20, 2007, from

4 ? winstrategy defend attacktargetshoot

5 WAR winstrategy defend attacktargetshoot

6 ARGUMENT IS WAR Your claims are indefensible. He attacked every weak point in my argument. His criticisms were right on target. I demolished his argument. I’ve never won an argument with him. You disagree? Okay, shoot! If you use that strategy, he’ll wipe you out. He shot down all of my arguments.

7 TIME IS MONEY - TIME IS A LIMITED RESOURCE - TIME IS A VALUABLE COMMODITY You’re wasting my time. This gadget will save you hours. How do you spend your time these days? That flat tire cost me hour. I’ve invested a lot of time in her. I don’t have enough time to spare for that. You’re running out of time. You need to budget your time. * Note: “We are using our everyday experiences with money, limited resources, and valuable commodities to conceptualize time. This isn’t a necessary way for human beings to conceptualize time; it is tied to our culture. There are cultures where time is none of these things.” (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980, p. 8-9)

8 Orientational Metaphors 方向隱喻 HAPPY IS UP; SAD IS DOWN You’re in high spirits. I fell into a depression. MORE IS UP; LESS IS DOWN My income rose last year. The number of errors he made is incredibly low. FORESEEABLE FUTURE EVENTS ARE UP (AND AHEAD) What’s coming up this week? Physical basis: Normally our eyes look in the direction in which we typically move (ahead, forward). Compared to Chinese: 我下禮拜日要去台北。 三天後有場演唱會，要一起去聽嗎 ?

9 Ontological Metaphors 實物隱喻 THE MIND IS A _MACHINE_. My mind just isn’t operating today. I am a little rusty today. THE MIND IS A _BRITTLE OBJECT_. Her ego is very fragile. You have to handle him with care since his wife’s death. I’m going to pieces.

10 Structural Metaphors 結構隱喻 IDEAS ARE FASHIONS That idea went out of style years ago. I hear sociobiology is in these days. That idea is old hat! Berkeley is a center of avant-garde thought. LIFE IS A JOURNEY Look how far we’ve come. We’re at a crossroads. We’ll just have to go our separate ways. I don’t think this relationship is going anywhere. Our marriage is on the rocks. EMOTIONAL EFFECT IS PHYSICAL CONTACT His mother’s death hit him hard. She’s a knockout. I was touched by his remark.

11 Hands-on activity LOVE IS ??? She cast her spell over me. She is bewitching. She fought for him, but his mistress won out. She pursued him relentlessly. This is a sick relationship. The marriage is dead – it can’t be revived. She drives me out of my mind. I’m crazy about her. LOVE IS MAGIC LOVE IS WAR LOVE IS A PATIENT LOVE IS MADNESS