Principles of metaphor interpretation and the notion of 'domain': A proposal for a hybrid model

Yeshayahu Shen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Metaphor is widely viewed as the (selective) mapping of properties from one conceptual domain (the 'source') onto another (the 'target'). Two different models of metaphor comprehension are distinguished with respect to this characterization of metaphors: the 'domain-as-a-schema' model, and the 'domain-as-a-taxonomic category' model. These models differ radically from each other with respect to: 1. Their representational assumptions regarding the way knowledge is organized and represented in memory, and 2. Their interpretation principles, namely, the connectivity vs. diagnosticity principles. On the basis of several counter-examples, it is argued that neither model is sufficient to account for certain phenomena regarding metaphor interpretation. As an alternative, a 'hybrid model' of metaphor comprehension is outlined. While preserving the explanatory power of each of the other two models, the 'hybrid model' is capable of accounting for those counter-examples. A multiple-stage experiment is described, which provides some initial empirical support for the hybrid model.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1631-1653
Number of pages23
JournalJournal of Pragmatics
Volume31
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2 Nov 1999

Funding

FundersFunder number
Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities
Israel Science Foundation

    Keywords

    • Category
    • Connectivity
    • Diagnosticity
    • Metaphor
    • Metaphor comprehension
    • Schema

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