The production of time-related metaphors by people who have experienced pregnancy loss

Turner, Sarah; Littlemore, Jeannette; Fuller, Danielle; Kuberska, Karolina; McGuinness, Sheelagh

doi:10.1075/ftl.10.14tur

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(12 reference statements)

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“…The parents in our study drew heavily on embodied metaphors to describe the strength and impact of the bereavement and ensuing emotions. The metaphors used had such a strong physical basis is in line with other studies that propose powerful, embodied metaphors can be the only device strong enough to to express emotions following traumatic experiences[32,33,33–36]. Although metaphor is sometimes seen as a poetic device, operating solely at the level of language, we have demonstrated that it is inappropriate to see it as a surface-level linguistic phenomenon, particularly in the context of traumatic experiences.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Metaphors that shape parents’ perceptions of effective communication with healthcare practitioners following child death: a qualitative UK study

Turner

Littlemore

Topping

et al. 2021

Preprint

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ObjectivesTo offer an interpretation of bereaved parents’ evaluations of communication with healthcare practitioners surrounding the death of a child.DesignInterpretative qualitative study employing thematic and linguistic analyses of metaphor embedded in interview data.SettingEngland and Scotland.Participants24 bereaved parents (21 women, 3 men)MethodsParticipants were recruited through the True Colours Trust website and mailing list, similar UK charities, and word of mouth. Following interviews in person or via video-conferencing platforms (Skype/Zoom), transcripts first underwent thematic and subsequently linguistic analyses supported by Nvivo. A focused analysis of metaphors used by the parents was undertaken allow in-depth interpretation of how they conceptualised their experiences.ResultsThe findings illuminate the ways parents experienced communication with healthcare practitioners surrounding the death of a child. They show how their evaluations of effective care relate to the experience of the bereavement itself, as expressed through metaphor. We identified three broad themes: (1) Identity (2) Emotional and Physical Response(s) and (3) Time. Successful communication from healthcare practitioners takes account of parents’ experiences related to these themes.ConclusionsThis study suggests that healthcare practitioners when communicating with bereaved parents need to recognise, and seek to comprehend, the ways in which the loss impacts upon an individual’s identity as a parent, the ‘physical’ nature of the emotions that can be unleashed, and the ways in which the death of a child can alter their metaphorical conceptions of time.Strengths and limitations of the studyThis interpretative qualitative study contributes to the growing literature on the experience of parental bereavement through its focus on the use of metaphor in parents’ accounts of child loss.The metaphor analysis afforded a focus not only on the content of the interviews, but also on the language that was used to express this content, providing more depth and nuance to the interpretation of the findings.Participants were all UK-based and self-selecting which could limit transferability.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Metaphors that shape parents’ perceptions of effective communication with healthcare practitioners following child death: a qualitative UK study

Turner

Littlemore

Topping

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The co-occurrence between metaphor, emotion and cognitive effects in the synaesthetes' data reflects findings in the metaphor literature that internal thought processes and experiences are often talked about using metaphor, as these are often difficult to express in literal terms (Gibbs & Franks, 2002;Littlemore & Turner, 2019;Turner et al, 2020). Synaesthetes are more likely to report strong visceral responses to sensory experiences which can result in physical pain ('it's piercing through my skin') or mental disturbances ('they take over my head and drive me mad'), and they respond on a much more emotional level ('it makes me anxious').…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

The Many Faces of Creativity

Turner

Littlemore

2023

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Creative metaphor has been of central interest to the cognitive linguistic research community in recent years. However, little is known about what propels people to use metaphor in a creative way. In this Element, the authors identify and explore some of the clues that synaesthesia may provide to help us better understand the factors that drive creativity, with a particular focus on creative metaphor. They identify the factors that seem to trigger the production of creative metaphor in synaesthetes, and explore what this can tell us about creativity in the population more generally. Their findings provide insights into the nature of creativity as it relates to metaphor, emotion and embodied experience. They argue that the production of creative metaphor arises from strong affective reactions to sensory and emotional stimuli and that there is an embodied symbiotic relationship between sensory experiences, embodiment, emotion, hyperbole, empathy, metaphor and creativity.

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“…131 The DBB project found that people's perceptions of time are sometimes skewed by the experience of miscarriage and that people needed to take time to reflect on their decisions, rather than being rushed through the decision-making process. 132 Therefore people experiencing miscarriage should be given time to reflect upon their options for disposal and discussion should happen in a quiet place, with the opportunity to ask questions, and to read the patient information leaflets. 133 There may be practical issues with provision of such facilities; for example, finding a quiet place in a busy A&E department.…”

Section: Standardised Formsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive loss and disposal of pregnancy remains

Austin

McGuinness

2019

NILQ

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In this paper we examine the legal framework which governs the management of pregnancy remains in the context of reproductive loss; specifically pregnancies which reach an unwanted end prior to 24 weeks’ gestation. It is important to consider the role for law as it is clear that law has the capacity to shape the nature of the care that people receive and their experience of bereavement at the time of reproductive loss. The unwanted end of a desired pregnancy can have profound consequences for those who experience it. How we respond to the needs of these individuals will have important consequences not just for their well-being, but it can also impact their future reproductive experiences. Furthermore, the original empirical research on which this paper is based demonstrates how healthcare practice in this area is problematic in its inconsistency, and in failures to account for the particular needs of the person who has suffered an unwanted end topregnancy. Because appropriate healthcare is properly determined in this context by the perspective of the individual, we argue that healthcare professionals should, as a matter both of good practice and of law, follow the individual’s lead when seeking to understand their needs. Accordingly, we advocate for the importance of all legal options for disposal of pregnancy remains being discussed when a person who has suffered reproductive loss wants that information and present practical measures that can be introduced to ensure this happens.

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The production of time-related metaphors by people who have experienced pregnancy loss

Cited by 8 publications

References 21 publications

Metaphors that shape parents’ perceptions of effective communication with healthcare practitioners following child death: a qualitative UK study

Metaphors that shape parents’ perceptions of effective communication with healthcare practitioners following child death: a qualitative UK study

The Many Faces of Creativity

Reproductive loss and disposal of pregnancy remains

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