John Benjamins Publishing Company
Dynamical systems metaphors
Abstract
In order to explore the role that ‘dynamical systems theory’ plays as an overarching conceptual source domain in the genre of educational scientific texts covering six distinct subject areas (cognitive psychology, linguistics, transportation studies, social psychology, evolutionary biology and business management), I examined the lower-level metaphors underlying this complex source domain. Corpus analyses of professional education literature revealed underlying metaphors of force dynamics, movement, object manipulation, and personification. Novel metaphors or novel extensions of conventional metaphors were few. Findings document a proliferation of extensions and elaborations of conventional metaphor groupings. The identified conceptual metaphors were linked by (a) lexical co-occurrences and (b) metaphoric implications not lexically expressed. Figurative context appears to aid the learner’s understanding, although some metaphors and combinations confound explanations of key aspects of dynamical systems. Suggestions are made that could enhance the overall pedagogical usefulness of the metaphors found.
Abstract
In order to explore the role that ‘dynamical systems theory’ plays as an overarching conceptual source domain in the genre of educational scientific texts covering six distinct subject areas (cognitive psychology, linguistics, transportation studies, social psychology, evolutionary biology and business management), I examined the lower-level metaphors underlying this complex source domain. Corpus analyses of professional education literature revealed underlying metaphors of force dynamics, movement, object manipulation, and personification. Novel metaphors or novel extensions of conventional metaphors were few. Findings document a proliferation of extensions and elaborations of conventional metaphor groupings. The identified conceptual metaphors were linked by (a) lexical co-occurrences and (b) metaphoric implications not lexically expressed. Figurative context appears to aid the learner’s understanding, although some metaphors and combinations confound explanations of key aspects of dynamical systems. Suggestions are made that could enhance the overall pedagogical usefulness of the metaphors found.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Preface xi
-
Introduction
- Metaphor in specialist discourse 3
-
Metaphor Variation in Specialist Discourse
- Register variation and metaphor use 17
- Metaphors in psychology genres 53
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Metaphor in Specific Contexts
- Payback and punishment 79
- They have to die for the goals 101
- The production line as a context for low metaphoricity 131
-
Metaphor in Science Writing
- High on metaphor, low on simile? An examination of metaphor type in sub-registers of academic prose 163
- A mere metaphor? Framings of the concept of metaphor in biological specialist communication 191
- Dynamical systems metaphors 215
-
Metaphor and Popularization
- Metaphor, news discourse and knowledge 245
- Metaphor as tools of enrolment in the policy process 271
-
Conclusion
- Metaphor in specialist discourse 299
- Index 315
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Preface xi
-
Introduction
- Metaphor in specialist discourse 3
-
Metaphor Variation in Specialist Discourse
- Register variation and metaphor use 17
- Metaphors in psychology genres 53
-
Metaphor in Specific Contexts
- Payback and punishment 79
- They have to die for the goals 101
- The production line as a context for low metaphoricity 131
-
Metaphor in Science Writing
- High on metaphor, low on simile? An examination of metaphor type in sub-registers of academic prose 163
- A mere metaphor? Framings of the concept of metaphor in biological specialist communication 191
- Dynamical systems metaphors 215
-
Metaphor and Popularization
- Metaphor, news discourse and knowledge 245
- Metaphor as tools of enrolment in the policy process 271
-
Conclusion
- Metaphor in specialist discourse 299
- Index 315
