Nominal Metaphor: A Constructionist's Perspective

Current theories on metaphor comprehension are problematic because they are product-oriented: first, such an orientation presupposes a differentiation between the literal and the figurative, so there is always something circuitous in their approaching of the issue of literal-metaphorical distinction. Second, metaphor as a linguistic product is subjected to an endless inferential process as it is devoid of the context in which it has been uttered; random emergent properties are inevitable results. Attributing these properties that have immerged in the inferential process to metaphor comprehension in online communication apparently leads to more problems than solutions. Third, why a metaphor is used is not asked, thus the emotive aspect of metaphor, an integral part of its meaning, is absent in their accounts. A speaker-centered approach help clarify the above problems. In this approach, the encyclopedic view of meaning representation is adopted, while the literal-figurative dichotomy is completely rejected; emergent properties are shown to be an indulgent extension to metaphor study. By introducing the anthropocentric and cultural perspective into this approach, the paper shows that the meaning of nominal metaphors consists of two aspects: information and emotive evaluation, and they lie within the construction"A is B".