Beyond propositionality : metaphor in the embodied mind
This thesis proposes a synthesis of ideas from relevance theoryâs conceptual and propositional approach to utterance interpretation with assumptions about the role of non-propositional elements, such as percepts, images and feelings, from embodied cognition. It begins by considering the traditional view of metaphor (reflected in the work of Grice) as involving the transfer of properties from a metaphor vehicle to a target. Relevance theoryâs account of metaphoric interpretation makes critical developments to these traditional explanations. It describes the manner in which conceptual and propositional representations are accessed in the interpretation of metaphor using the notion of an ad-hoc concept construction. According to this account, the hearer of a metaphor inferentially develops the encoded concept to an occasion-specific ad-hoc concept, which resembles the speakerâs thought more closely. The thesis points out problems with the relevance-theoretic account, most notably its failure to account for intuitions about the role of non-propositional elements in the comprehension of at least some novel metaphors. It considers a range of approaches which have aimed to handle non-propositional components,
Golding, Alex
Beyond propositionality : metaphor in the embodied mind. This thesis proposes a synthesis of ideas from relevance theoryâs conceptual and propositional approach to utterance interpretation with assumptions about the role of non-propositional elements, such as percepts, images and feelings, from embodied cognition. It begins by considering the traditional view of metaphor (reflected in the work of Grice) as involving the transfer of properties from a metaphor vehicle to a target. Relevance theoryâs account of metaphoric interpretation makes critical developments to these traditional explanations. It describes the manner in which conceptual and propositional representations are accessed in the interpretation of metaphor using the notion of an ad-hoc concept construction. According to this account, the hearer of a metaphor inferentially develops the encoded concept to an occasion-specific ad-hoc concept, which resembles the speakerâs thought more closely. The thesis points out problems with the relevance-theoretic account, most notably its failure to account for intuitions about the role of non-propositional elements in the comprehension of at least some novel metaphors. It considers a range of approaches which have aimed to handle non-propositional components,
beyond metaphor embody mind proposes synthesis idea relevance_theory conceptual propositional utterance_interpretation assumption role non_propositional element image feeling embody cognition begin_consider traditional_view metaphor reflect work grice involve transfer property metaphor vehicle target relevance_theory account metaphoric interpretation make critical development traditional explanation describes manner conceptual propositional representation access interpretation metaphor use notion hoc concept construction according account hearer metaphor develops encode concept occasion specific hoc concept resemble speaker think closely point problem relevance_theoretic account notably failure account intuition role non_propositional element comprehension least novel metaphor considers range approach aim handle non_propositional component