The Analysis of Metaphor: To What Extent Can the Theory of Lexical Priming Help Our Understanding of Metaphor Usage and Comprehension?

Abstract

This paper addresses the issues with current systems of categorisation and measurement of linguistic metaphoricity, which have coloured most research into the area to-date. The paper discusses the role of metaphor as a form of creative language and a deviation from more linguistic norms and conventionalities. Two current theories are discussed as providing alternatives to metaphor identification approaches. These are Hanks' (Int J Lexicogr 17:3, 2004) Theory of Norms and Exploitations and Hoey's (Lexical priming and the properties of text, 2003) Theory of Lexical Priming. It is proposed that the theory of lexical priming can be adopted to provide an explanation of linguistic norms and exploitations involved in metaphoric language. Finally, the paper provides a brief corpus analysis of the verb to kindle found in a corpus of Nineteenth Century writings. The analysis will focus upon evidence of linguistic and secondary meaning primings within concordance lines.

Metaphor comprehension: A critical review of theories and evidence.

“…Over this same period, numerous books have considered metaphor from a variety of perspectives, generally emphasizing linguistic approaches (e.g., Cohen, 2008; Dancygier & Sweetser, 2014; Gibbs, 2008; Goatly, 1997; Kittay, 1987; Kövecses, 2005, 2010; Lakoff & Johnson, 1980; Lakoff & Turner, 1989; Ricœur, 1977; Ritchie, 2013; Stern, 2000). But although reviews directed at selected subtopics have appeared (Hoffman & Kemper, 1987; Kertész, Rákosi, & Csatár, 2012; Landau et al, 2010; Meier & Robinson, 2004; Patterson, 2016), the field has not been the focus of a broad review of theories and evidence. Accordingly, the present article aims to provide a critical review of major theories of metaphor comprehension in light of empirical evidence that has accumulated over the past four decades.…”

Contrasting the primings between English and Chinese: To advance Hoey's theory of lexical priming from the perspective of culture psychology

“…It has been more than 20 years since the 2005 publication of Hoey's lexical priming theory (LPT), since when various applications and expansions have been made to advance this theory in many dimensions. Expansions and advances have been provided either by applying the theory to a new linguistic field (e.g., spoken English, see Pace-Sigge, 2013 , 2017 ) or to account for a linguistic phenomenon (e.g., metaphor, see Patterson, 2016 ). A review of the literature applying LPT to languages other than English (e.g.…”

The effects of creativity and crystallized intelligence on metaphor comprehension

“…Metaphor, characterized by the use of language to describe one concept in terms of another that is conceptually distinct, has been an enduring subject of intrigue for various disciplines [1]. Given its evident significance in human cognition and language, a fundamental objective of cognitive science is to unravel the mechanisms through which individuals comprehend metaphors.…”