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Chapter 10. The limits of comprehension in cross-cultural metaphor

Networking in drugs terminology

Abstract

This chapter examines the conceptual patterns involved in the interpretation of metaphors primarily in English, French, German, and Italian from the field of drugs terminology. It suggests that the process defined here as conceptual networking constitutes a substantial aid in cross-cultural comprehension. Many features of networks are shared among languages, such as similar analogies, cultural overlap in linguistic metaphors, and universal components in both specific and more generalized metaphors. However, there are cases in which shared conceptual metaphors display considerable cross-language variation with regard to the types of linguistic metaphors linked to their networks. These cases demonstrate the limits of cross-cultural comprehension and reveal that non-contextual features are required to establish a reasonable interpretation of the metaphor in question.

Abstract

This chapter examines the conceptual patterns involved in the interpretation of metaphors primarily in English, French, German, and Italian from the field of drugs terminology. It suggests that the process defined here as conceptual networking constitutes a substantial aid in cross-cultural comprehension. Many features of networks are shared among languages, such as similar analogies, cultural overlap in linguistic metaphors, and universal components in both specific and more generalized metaphors. However, there are cases in which shared conceptual metaphors display considerable cross-language variation with regard to the types of linguistic metaphors linked to their networks. These cases demonstrate the limits of cross-cultural comprehension and reveal that non-contextual features are required to establish a reasonable interpretation of the metaphor in question.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. List of contributors vii
  4. Acknowledgements ix
  5. Introduction 1
  6. Part 1. Contexts of research
  7. Chapter 1. An assessment of metaphor retrieval methods 21
  8. Chapter 2. Metaphor in discourse 51
  9. Chapter 3. Metaphor identification in Dutch discourse 69
  10. Chapter 4. Locating metaphor candidates in specialized corpora using raw frequency and keyword lists 85
  11. Part 2. Contexts of production
  12. Chapter 5. Metaphor variation across L1 and L2 speakers of English 109
  13. Chapter 6. Metaphorical expressions in L2 production 135
  14. Chapter 7. Researching linguistic metaphor in native, non-native and expert writing 149
  15. Part 3. Contexts of interpretation
  16. Chapter 8. Appreciation and interpretation of visual metaphors in advertising across three European countries 177
  17. Chapter 9. English native speakers’ interpretations of culture-bound Japanese figurative expressions 195
  18. Chapter 10. The limits of comprehension in cross-cultural metaphor 217
  19. Part 4. Metaphor, topic, and discourse
  20. Chapter 11. Conceptual types of terminological metaphors in marine biology 239
  21. Chapter 12. Gestures, language, and what they reveal about thought 261
  22. Part 5. Metaphor and culture
  23. Chapter 13. Armed with patience, suffering an emotion 285
  24. Chapter 14. Trolls 309
  25. Chapter 15. A computational exploration of creative similes 329
  26. Part 6. Afterword and prospects for future research
  27. Chapter 16. Metaphors, snowflakes, and termite nests 347
  28. Name index 373
  29. Terms index 375
Metaphor in Use
This chapter is in the book Metaphor in Use
https://doi.org/10.1075/hcp.38.16tri

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. List of contributors vii
  4. Acknowledgements ix
  5. Introduction 1
  6. Part 1. Contexts of research
  7. Chapter 1. An assessment of metaphor retrieval methods 21
  8. Chapter 2. Metaphor in discourse 51
  9. Chapter 3. Metaphor identification in Dutch discourse 69
  10. Chapter 4. Locating metaphor candidates in specialized corpora using raw frequency and keyword lists 85
  11. Part 2. Contexts of production
  12. Chapter 5. Metaphor variation across L1 and L2 speakers of English 109
  13. Chapter 6. Metaphorical expressions in L2 production 135
  14. Chapter 7. Researching linguistic metaphor in native, non-native and expert writing 149
  15. Part 3. Contexts of interpretation
  16. Chapter 8. Appreciation and interpretation of visual metaphors in advertising across three European countries 177
  17. Chapter 9. English native speakers’ interpretations of culture-bound Japanese figurative expressions 195
  18. Chapter 10. The limits of comprehension in cross-cultural metaphor 217
  19. Part 4. Metaphor, topic, and discourse
  20. Chapter 11. Conceptual types of terminological metaphors in marine biology 239
  21. Chapter 12. Gestures, language, and what they reveal about thought 261
  22. Part 5. Metaphor and culture
  23. Chapter 13. Armed with patience, suffering an emotion 285
  24. Chapter 14. Trolls 309
  25. Chapter 15. A computational exploration of creative similes 329
  26. Part 6. Afterword and prospects for future research
  27. Chapter 16. Metaphors, snowflakes, and termite nests 347
  28. Name index 373
  29. Terms index 375
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