Metaphor as Cognition

Did you know you are a poet every single day? When you say I am feeling down or Time is flying, you are using metaphors. You are not actually flying through the air or physically down in the ground. You are using a word bridge to explain a hard idea by using an easy idea. This is how our brains learn everything. We take what we already know and stretch it to cover new things. It is a secret code that makes the whole world easier to understand.

You understand the unknown by seeing its reflection in the known. Every metaphor is a mirror held up between two worlds.

Lakoff and Johnson: metaphor is not just literary but a fundamental feature of cognition. We map source domains (concrete, physical) onto target domains (abstract). Argument is structured by War (attacked my points, won the debate). If we thought of Argument as Dance instead of War, social interactions would transform. Metaphors create the rules of engagement for how we live.

SOUND: A clashing sound: we use clash for colors or people fighting too.

SMELL: Fresh laundry: we use fresh to mean a new start.

TASTE: Something bitter: we call an upset person bitter too.

TOUCH: Something sharp: we call a smart person sharp.

SIGHT: A bright light: we call a good idea bright.

BODY: Balancing on one foot: we try to balance schoolwork and play. The body knows the metaphor.

Music: Perfect by Pink

Part of Language & Meaning — PHILOSOPHY — Education Revelation