A Cognitive Approach To Computer Metaphors

Since Lakoff and Johnson(1980) published the book "Metaphors WeLive By", metaphor has set free from traditional rhetorical category.Lakoff and other linguists make deep exploration of metaphor from theperspective of cognitive linguistic. Conceptual metaphor theory is a veryimportant part in the cognitive field. The systematicity and coherence ofconceptual metaphor play essential parts in the cognitive metaphor theory,too.In informational society, the abstract concept of the daily operationand the development of computer can be expressed via the metaphoricalconcept. Based on the large quantity of word data, we find metaphor iswidely used in computer terms. Common conceptual metaphors incomputer terms are found. They are: the PERSON metaphor; theCONTAINER metaphor; the HIGHWAY metaphor; the TOOL metaphor; theCOMMUNITY metaphor; the BUILDING and the WAR metaphors.This thesis consists of an introduction, three chapters and aconclusion. The introductory part explain the research background,research motivation, theoretical framework and framework of the thesis.Chapter one is a detailed account of the development of metaphor andfocuses on the analysis of the theory of conceptual metaphor including:definition, parameters, systematicity and coherence. Chapter two andchapter three are the main parts of this thesis. We use the theory ofconceptual metaphor to analyze the systematicity and coherence ofconceptual metaphors in computer terms in detail. We conclude thatshared entailment not only constitutes coherence within a singleconceptual metaphor, coherence between/among conceptual metaphors in computer terms, but also coherence between/among conceptualmetaphors with different target domains or different source domain.Besides, there is coherence among different conceptual metaphors.Conceptual metaphors in computer terms may share several metaphoricalentailments. Lakoff proposes metaphorical mapping is spontaneous,correspondent. In terms of the view, Chapter two concludes the mappingsof computer metaphors are not spontaneous, but partial and of choice.Even if the mappings are partial, they help us realize the essence ofcomputer. The last part is a conclusion, which summarizes the key pointsof the whole paper. Besides, some topics are suggested for further study.Computer metaphor is regular, relevant systematic coherence. Whatmay at first seem to be random, isolated metaphorical expression turnsout to be regular. The process for us to understand computer is from theshallow to the depth. When we log on the virtual world, ourunderstanding for many aspects of computer is preliminary, superficial.As we go into the virtual world deeply, we have deeper, more thoroughunderstanding. This is a coherent process. Although each metaphorhighlights ditfferent aspects, they have the common purpose: we have abetter understanding of computer (target domain) so that we can make itserve us.In a word, analyzing computer metaphors from the perspective ofcognition with conceptual metaphor theory has great power ofexplanation. It can help us have a deeper understanding of computer andstrengthen pragmatic ability.