HCC class lecture 8 comments John Canny 2/14/05

Administrivia Project proposals are due today. I’m travelling on Weds. Class as usual but someone else will lead the discussion.

Metaphor Lakoff and Johnson give convincing arguments for the importance of metaphor in language. They also argue for the universality of certain metaphors (primary metaphors). Metaphors are “grounded” in sensori- motor experience, meaning we use our sensori-motor skills to apply them.

Metaphor and Piaget What happens in the transition from sensori-motor to concrete thought in Piaget’s theory?

Metaphor Variation Primary metaphors are quite robust across societies, are is Piaget’s sensori-motor stage. However, they are not universal: For us the “time is a journey” metaphor puts the future ahead of us, because we arrive there later. For other societies, “forward” is toward the past, because it is visible. The future is behind because it cannot be seen.

Metaphor Variation Others primary metaphors appear to be universal: “These prices are through the roof!” “.. that will send me over the edge” “.. they rammed the bill through Congress” “..this company is red hot” But are these really about sensori-motor experience?

Mediated Experience Much of our physical experience is actually mediated by books, TV, movies etc. We lack the direct experience, but we can transfer to the new concept by referencing our direct experience (e.g. seeing people having an experience allows us to “see it though their eyes”) Thus “grounding” is hypothetical, rather than based on experience.

Other idioms Consider some other idioms: “Too many cooks spoil the broth” “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride” “the straw that broke the camel’s back” Crying “uncle”, “Spam” etc. These have socio-cultural meanings.

Idiom Idioms (and myths) are tools to describe complex phenomena: “Oedipal complex,” a “Cassandra,” “McCarthyism,” “his Waterloo” In the general case, we use wide-shared cultural “experiences” to ground idioms. But we definitely have a preference for sensori-motor idioms. Why?

The “Inevitability of Metaphor” Lakoff and Johnson give a biological explanation: “Our enormous metaphoric conceptual system is thus built up by a process of neural selection”. What about ontogenetic and socio-cultural explanations?

Learning facilitators (review) People learn best by doing (actively constructing new knowledge). People learn best by doing (actively constructing new knowledge). It allows them to create theories of what is going on and test them immediately. It allows them to create theories of what is going on and test them immediately.

Learning and experience Learning is most effective when it connects with the learner’s real-world experiences. Learning is most effective when it connects with the learner’s real-world experiences. The knowledge that the learner already has form those experiences serves as a foundation for knew knowledge. The knowledge that the learner already has form those experiences serves as a foundation for knew knowledge.

Memorization tricks Memorization is enhanced by creating vivid mental images, even parodies, or real situations. Memorization is enhanced by creating vivid mental images, even parodies, or real situations. Thus idioms with these qualities are more likely to be remembered and used. They often evoke emotional responses in us (which is why they are easy to remember), that aid the speaker’s meaning. Thus idioms with these qualities are more likely to be remembered and used. They often evoke emotional responses in us (which is why they are easy to remember), that aid the speaker’s meaning.

Socio-cultural explanations Lakoff and Johnson have an interest in “universal” metaphors, and do not discuss at length cultural variations. Lakoff and Johnson have an interest in “universal” metaphors, and do not discuss at length cultural variations. We’ll leave this to the next few lectures, when we discuss literary theories. We’ll leave this to the next few lectures, when we discuss literary theories.

Cognitive Science methods Did you notice methodological differences between this paper and the earlier readings? Did you notice methodological differences between this paper and the earlier readings?

Discussion questions 1. Discuss primary and secondary metaphors for a domain you are familiar with (e.g. computer science). Are there differences between you? What about non-CS friends? 2. Discuss the differences between sensori- motor metaphor and general idiom. Relate these differences to transitions from sensori- motor to higher reasoning in Piaget.

Assignment for next time Semiotics (online). Volunteer for the presentation? We also need a moderator. We also need a moderator.