John Benjamins Publishing Company
From butchers and surgeons to the linguistic method
Abstract
The study of metaphors and blends deals frequently with isolated, acontextualised examples from the English language. Through them certain cognitive processes are said to be identified and such processes are allegedly of universal value and characteristic of the human mind at large. This chapter first examines a well-known metaphor or blend, This surgeon is a butcher! and argues that the analyses based on “solipsistic” individual cases are principally incorrect. A brief review of the need to take into account the aspects left out in mainstream Cognitive Linguistics leads to the identification of a number of methodological flaws in the standard procedures and to the necessary changes to be made.
Abstract
The study of metaphors and blends deals frequently with isolated, acontextualised examples from the English language. Through them certain cognitive processes are said to be identified and such processes are allegedly of universal value and characteristic of the human mind at large. This chapter first examines a well-known metaphor or blend, This surgeon is a butcher! and argues that the analyses based on “solipsistic” individual cases are principally incorrect. A brief review of the need to take into account the aspects left out in mainstream Cognitive Linguistics leads to the identification of a number of methodological flaws in the standard procedures and to the necessary changes to be made.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Introduction
- Discourse, cognition and society 1
-
Part I. Socio-cognitive approach to discourse
- From butchers and surgeons to the linguistic method 21
- Individual differences and in situ identity marking 39
- The persuasive (and manipulative) power of metaphor in ‘austerity’ discourse 79
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Part II. Discourse strategies in multimodal communication
- The construction of meaning in multimodal discourse 111
- Multimodal metaphor, narrativity and creativity in TV cosmetics ads 137
- Multimodal discourses of collective memory 159
-
Part III. Cross-linguistic (English – Spanish) perspectives
- Exploring specific differences 187
- The use of metaphor and evaluation as discourse strategies in pre-electoral debates 215
- A text-world account of temporal world-building strategies in Spanish and English 245
- Gesture structuring strategies in English and Spanish autobiographical narratives 273
- Index 297
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Introduction
- Discourse, cognition and society 1
-
Part I. Socio-cognitive approach to discourse
- From butchers and surgeons to the linguistic method 21
- Individual differences and in situ identity marking 39
- The persuasive (and manipulative) power of metaphor in ‘austerity’ discourse 79
-
Part II. Discourse strategies in multimodal communication
- The construction of meaning in multimodal discourse 111
- Multimodal metaphor, narrativity and creativity in TV cosmetics ads 137
- Multimodal discourses of collective memory 159
-
Part III. Cross-linguistic (English – Spanish) perspectives
- Exploring specific differences 187
- The use of metaphor and evaluation as discourse strategies in pre-electoral debates 215
- A text-world account of temporal world-building strategies in Spanish and English 245
- Gesture structuring strategies in English and Spanish autobiographical narratives 273
- Index 297
