About primary metaphors

Abstract

One important contribution to the Contemporary Theory of Metaphor is Gradys Primary Metaphor Hypothesis (1997), which claims that the emergence and nature of conceptual metaphors are often grounded in more experiential metaphorical patterns, called primary metaphors. The new hypothesis changes considerably the ideas concerning the generation of metaphors, in comparison to the former view. In this paper we discuss some of these main changes, namely the characteristics of source and target domain, the fundamental construct, and the licensing of metaphorical expressions. KEY-WORDS: conceptual metaphor; primary metaphor; primary scenes; metaphor licensing. RESUMO:Uma contribuição importante para a Teoria Contemporânea da Metáfora foi a Hipótese da Metáfora Primária de Grady (1997), que sugere que a geração e natureza das metáforas conceituais geralmente baseiam-se em padrões metafóricos mais experienciais, chamados metáforas primárias. A nova hipótese muda consideravelmente as idéias sobre a geração de metáforas em comparação com a visão anterior. Neste artigo, discutimos algumas das mudanças principais hipotetizadas por Grady com relação às características dos domínios fonte e alvo, ao construto fundamental e ao licenciamento de expressões metafóricas. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:metáfora conceitual metáfora primária cenas primárias geração de metáforas.

The Metaphor of Light – Perspectives on Conceptual Metaphors

“…The former acknowledges that the nature of conceptual metaphors resides in the recurrent correlation with a particular environment. The cognitive operation is exemplified by Lima (2006) who adverts to the simultaneous feeling of hunger and desire for food. The recurrence of the events of hunger, having direct implications in the experience brought about by the source domain of hunger, generates the metaphor DESIRE IS HUNGER.…”