Home Linguistics & Semiotics Chapter 2. Mixed metaphors from a discourse dynamics perspective
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Chapter 2. Mixed metaphors from a discourse dynamics perspective

A non-issue?
  • Lynne Cameron
View more publications by John Benjamins Publishing Company
To Publisher Page
Mixing Metaphor
This chapter is in the book Mixing Metaphor

Abstract

The ‘mixed metaphor problem’ is considered from the discourse dynamics perspective, examining instances from metaphor clusters in dialogue and interaction. Several types of multiple juxtaposed verbal metaphors are found but they rarely demonstrate the semantic dissonance or stylistic undesirability held characteristic of problematic mixed metaphors. Multiple verbal metaphors are not stylistically-tricky additions to the flow of talk but are constitutive of it, discursive resources that contribute to the flow of jointly-constructed meaning. Multiple metaphors are shown to result from and find coherence in: shifting discourse topics; anaphoric reference and lexico-conceptual pacts; being combined in coherent metaphorical scenarios; layering of conventionalised and systematic metaphors.The second part of the chapter demonstrates how multiple metaphors were selected and combined to form the basis of the new model of empathy~dyspathy dynamics in social science research, and reflects on the inevitability of mixing metaphors.

Abstract

The ‘mixed metaphor problem’ is considered from the discourse dynamics perspective, examining instances from metaphor clusters in dialogue and interaction. Several types of multiple juxtaposed verbal metaphors are found but they rarely demonstrate the semantic dissonance or stylistic undesirability held characteristic of problematic mixed metaphors. Multiple verbal metaphors are not stylistically-tricky additions to the flow of talk but are constitutive of it, discursive resources that contribute to the flow of jointly-constructed meaning. Multiple metaphors are shown to result from and find coherence in: shifting discourse topics; anaphoric reference and lexico-conceptual pacts; being combined in coherent metaphorical scenarios; layering of conventionalised and systematic metaphors.The second part of the chapter demonstrates how multiple metaphors were selected and combined to form the basis of the new model of empathy~dyspathy dynamics in social science research, and reflects on the inevitability of mixing metaphors.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction
  4. Introduction vii
  5. Part I. Is Mixed Metaphor a Problem?
  6. Chapter 1. A view of “mixed metaphor” within a conceptual metaphor theory framework 3
  7. Chapter 2. Mixed metaphors from a discourse dynamics perspective 17
  8. Chapter 3. Why mixed metaphors make sense 31
  9. Chapter 4. Tackling mixed metaphors in discourse 57
  10. Part II. Reasons for Mixing Metaphor
  11. Chapter 5. Mixed metaphor 75
  12. Chapter 6. Mixed metaphor is a question of deliberateness 113
  13. Chapter 7. When languages and cultures meet 133
  14. Chapter 8. The ‘dull roar’ and the ‘burning barbed wire pantyhose’ 155
  15. Part III. Effects of Mixing Metaphor
  16. Chapter 9. We drink with our eyes first 179
  17. Chapter 10. A corpus-based study of ‘mixed metaphor’ as a metalinguistic comment 203
  18. Chapter 11. Mixing in pictorial and multimodal metaphors? 223
  19. Chapter 12. Extended metaphor in the web of discourse 241
  20. Index 267
https://doi.org/10.1075/milcc.6.02cam

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction
  4. Introduction vii
  5. Part I. Is Mixed Metaphor a Problem?
  6. Chapter 1. A view of “mixed metaphor” within a conceptual metaphor theory framework 3
  7. Chapter 2. Mixed metaphors from a discourse dynamics perspective 17
  8. Chapter 3. Why mixed metaphors make sense 31
  9. Chapter 4. Tackling mixed metaphors in discourse 57
  10. Part II. Reasons for Mixing Metaphor
  11. Chapter 5. Mixed metaphor 75
  12. Chapter 6. Mixed metaphor is a question of deliberateness 113
  13. Chapter 7. When languages and cultures meet 133
  14. Chapter 8. The ‘dull roar’ and the ‘burning barbed wire pantyhose’ 155
  15. Part III. Effects of Mixing Metaphor
  16. Chapter 9. We drink with our eyes first 179
  17. Chapter 10. A corpus-based study of ‘mixed metaphor’ as a metalinguistic comment 203
  18. Chapter 11. Mixing in pictorial and multimodal metaphors? 223
  19. Chapter 12. Extended metaphor in the web of discourse 241
  20. Index 267
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2026 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 22.2.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/milcc.6.02cam/html
Scroll to top button