Topic > A report on metaphor, its definition, types, theories and uses

Index Types of MetaphorOrientative MetaphorOntological MetaphorInteraction Theory of MetaphorConceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT)Previous ResearchThe word "metaphor" is originally a Greek work. This word could be literally translated as "transport", where we can transport some characteristics of one thing onto another thing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Metaphor first caught the attention of the noted philosopher Aristotle. In the 4th century, in his work known as "Poetry", Aristotle defined metaphor as: naming one thing belongs to another thing. IA Richard in his work known as "The Philosophy of Rhetoric" defined metaphor as a comparison between two things. IA Richard assumes that metaphor has two terms: tenor and vehicle, and the relation between these to each other is called ground. The tenor is the subject to whom the attribute is described. The vehicle is the object whose attribute is borrowed. Furthermore, Lakoff and Johnson (1980) in their famous work “Metaphors We Live By” defined metaphor as: “understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another”. Johnson in (1980) publishing the book 'Metaphors We Live By' had laid the first foundations for the radical change of metaphor from a figurative tool used only and especially in poetry by poets and as a vehicle to being an everyday phenomenon used to communicate. and interact between people. Aside from their distinctive view of metaphor, Lakoff and Johnson (1980) divided metaphor into three types: structural metaphor, orienting metaphor, and ontological metaphor. Types of Metaphor Structural metaphor is the best-known type of metaphor used in everyday communication. It means “to understand and experience one kind of thing in terms of another.” An example of this metaphor is (time is money) where we can realize that time is understood as money which is important and valuable in everyday life. Orientative Metaphor Lakoff and Johnson describe this type of metaphor as organizing concepts relative to one another. These metaphors are mostly spatial orientation concepts like (up - down, inside - outside...) as in saying that (happy is vertical) Ontological metaphor This type of metaphor deals with physical objects, where someone is based upon going through an experience he is given something a physical identity as in (resisting one's dreams). Furthermore, Lakoff and Johnson (1980) had formulated a theory that is still a dominant theory today. This theory is known as Conceptual Metaphor Theory. According to this theory, metaphor is a cognitive tool used in the daily conversations of the native community to describe life. Following this theory, Johnson and Lakoff brought about a major reevaluation of metaphor and its understanding. They constitute the first step towards the cognitive vision of metaphor. Interaction Theory of Metaphor Interaction theory was the basis of the transition from the traditional view of metaphor to the cognitive view. I. Richard in the 1930s takes the first step in this transition by introducing his theory known as "Interaction Theory". According to this theory, metaphors are the interaction between two different things supported by a word or phrase. Moreover, according to I. Richard metaphors have two terms: tenor and vehicle and the relationship between them called ground. The tenor is the subject to whom the attribute is described. And the vehicle is the object whose attributes are borrowed. For I. Richard There are two types of metaphors: sensory metaphors and emotional metaphors. Inmetaphors of meaning, the transition occurs due to the similarity between the original object and the new one. On the other hand, in emotional metaphors the transition is matured due to the similarities with the feelings of the new situation and the normal situation. Later Black Max (1979) developed this theory. According to him, we do not need to know the similarities between the two things (tenor) and (vehicle) to understand their meaning and the similarities could be created through the interaction between the two terms. Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) Conceptual metaphor theory is a theory presented by Lakoff and Johnson in their book “Metaphors We Live By”, published in (1980). This theory assumes that: metaphor is a cognitive tool used to express and describe everyday actions. Furthermore, Lakoff and Johnson stated that metaphor is a place in the mind and although it is a place in language. According to Lakoff and Johnson: “…metaphor is typically seen as characteristic of language alone, a matter of words rather than of thought or action…we have found that, on the contrary, that metaphor is pervasive in everyday life, not just in language but in thought and action..." (1980). During their work on this theory, Lakoff and Johnson observed that people tend to use realistic concepts to describe an abstract idea. English speakers commonly use diary to describe life as in (life is to describe an abstract concept (life). Previous research Somme. R and Barbas A. Sommer (2011): “Zoomorphy: Animal Metaphors For Human Personality”. In this study speakers use animal names as metaphors to describe a person's personality and behaviors This study focused primarily on both metaphors (X is a tiger; Y is a fox) and presented similarities in (X eats like a horse). ; Y is as strong as an ox.) This study introduced 36 mammal names for study participants who were students. Using 70% of the criterion, 5 species of these mammal names were used positively to describe people such as lions, tigers, etc. There are 11 species that have been used negatively to describe people such as pig, rat, donkey, etc. This study used color-based metaphor to explore the metaphorical uses of some common colors such as (black, white, yellow, red, green and blue). This study divided colors into three types (euphemistic, dysphemistic, and orthophemistic). This study was interested in how Jordanians use color terms as metaphors, but also mentioned other uses of these colors in general. This study used observations and interviews as tools to collect data. As a result, this study found that: The color black in Arabic could be used euphemistically, dysphmistically, or orthophemistically. From a dysphemistic point of view it could mean mischievous and for evil matters. Jordanian speakers say (aswad Al-galb) instead of (black heart). This metaphor is commonly used to describe a person who has a heart full of hatred or jealousy. The color white is used to indicate purity, harmless matters and free from evil. Jordanian speakers say (abyad ulgalb) which means (white heart). These metaphors are used to describe an honest and good-natured person. The colors yellow and red are associated with negative connotations. Yellow is more associated with illness. The color red is associated with danger and difficulty. The color green is the color most associated with peace and rest. This color is also associated with the concept of growth, harmony, health and safety. The color blue is associated with highly positive values, calm and cleanliness. It could also be associated with the concept of health and healing. Alsadi, Hanna,.