Chapter 1. A corpus-based look at time metaphors
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Javier Valenzuela
Abstract
Motion-based metaphors of time have been thoroughly discussed in the literature, but some aspects still remain underexplored. The present chapter addresses one of these areas, namely, the lexical richness of the motion verbs found in temporal expressions. We present the findings of a corpus study of motion expressions of time in television news. Using a large set of data, we show that motion verbs that are not conventionally associated with the expression of time, such as crawl and roll, are used alongside the more typical ones (e.g., come, approach). The results suggest that language users are in fact far more creative than it has been assumed so far, thus challenging what is typically perceived as an everyday metaphor of time.
Abstract
Motion-based metaphors of time have been thoroughly discussed in the literature, but some aspects still remain underexplored. The present chapter addresses one of these areas, namely, the lexical richness of the motion verbs found in temporal expressions. We present the findings of a corpus study of motion expressions of time in television news. Using a large set of data, we show that motion verbs that are not conventionally associated with the expression of time, such as crawl and roll, are used alongside the more typical ones (e.g., come, approach). The results suggest that language users are in fact far more creative than it has been assumed so far, thus challenging what is typically perceived as an everyday metaphor of time.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Time and creativity in language
- Chapter 1. A corpus-based look at time metaphors 15
- Chapter 2. Time moves more often in poetry 41
- Chapter 3. What is time? 61
- Chapter 4. Working on it 81
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Part II. Beyond language
- Chapter 5. Creative visual metaphors of protracted and frozen time in autobiographical comics about depression 101
- Chapter 6. Time-creation in film 125
- Chapter 7. Beyond the limits 147
- Chapter 8. From “slow lettuce” to “striated time” 163
- Chapter 9. Physical and imaginary landmarks in English time gestures 187
- Chapter 10. Time in Chinese hands 209
- Epilogue. Creative to whom, and on what basis? 233
- Index 243
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Time and creativity in language
- Chapter 1. A corpus-based look at time metaphors 15
- Chapter 2. Time moves more often in poetry 41
- Chapter 3. What is time? 61
- Chapter 4. Working on it 81
-
Part II. Beyond language
- Chapter 5. Creative visual metaphors of protracted and frozen time in autobiographical comics about depression 101
- Chapter 6. Time-creation in film 125
- Chapter 7. Beyond the limits 147
- Chapter 8. From “slow lettuce” to “striated time” 163
- Chapter 9. Physical and imaginary landmarks in English time gestures 187
- Chapter 10. Time in Chinese hands 209
- Epilogue. Creative to whom, and on what basis? 233
- Index 243
