Interpreting metaphor : perspectives from pragmatics & psychotherapy
The primary objective of this thesis is to provide an account of metaphor comprehension that applies to the full spectrum of metaphorical utterances. I take the relevance-theoretic account of communication, and its entailed theory of metaphor, to provide a good account of how many metaphorical expressions are comprehended, in particular lexical/phrasal cases. However, I maintain the need for a different processing route to account for instances of metaphor interpretation in which the literal meaning of the metaphorical utterance is more keenly felt and experienced by the interpreter. As I demonstrate, this applies to cases of extended and/or creative metaphorical utterances. The additional processing route described, referred to as the 'metaphorical/imaginary world' route, is argued to be complementary to the relevance-theoretic ad hoc concept account and is, therefore, framed against the backdrop of RT's general theory of communication. In order to incorporate the perspective-shifting and imagistic effects that I show to be derived during 'metaphorical world' comprehension, I suggest enriching the relevance-theoretic notion of 'encyclopaedic entry' to encompass affective and imagistic content. This work takes
Needham-Didsbury, I. M.
Interpreting metaphor : perspectives from pragmatics & psychotherapy. The primary objective of this thesis is to provide an account of metaphor comprehension that applies to the full spectrum of metaphorical utterances. I take the relevance-theoretic account of communication, and its entailed theory of metaphor, to provide a good account of how many metaphorical expressions are comprehended, in particular lexical/phrasal cases. However, I maintain the need for a different processing route to account for instances of metaphor interpretation in which the literal meaning of the metaphorical utterance is more keenly felt and experienced by the interpreter. As I demonstrate, this applies to cases of extended and/or creative metaphorical utterances. The additional processing route described, referred to as the 'metaphorical/imaginary world' route, is argued to be complementary to the relevance-theoretic ad hoc concept account and is, therefore, framed against the backdrop of RT's general theory of communication. In order to incorporate the perspective-shifting and imagistic effects that I show to be derived during 'metaphorical world' comprehension, I suggest enriching the relevance-theoretic notion of 'encyclopaedic entry' to encompass affective and imagistic content. This work takes
interpreting metaphor perspective pragmatic psychotherapy primary_objective provide_account metaphor comprehension apply full_spectrum metaphorical utterance take relevance_theoretic account communication entail theory_metaphor provide_good account many metaphorical_expression comprehend particular lexical phrasal case however maintain need different process route account instance metaphor interpretation literal mean metaphorical utterance keenly felt experienced interpreter apply case extend and creative metaphorical utterance additional processing route describe refer metaphorical imaginary world route argue complementary relevance_theoretic hoc concept account therefore frame backdrop general_theory communication order incorporate perspective shifting effect show derive metaphorical world comprehension suggest enrich relevance_theoretic notion entry encompass affective content work take