METAPHOR IN EVERYDAY LANGUAGE: HOW FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONS SHAPE THOUGHT AND COMMUNICATION
Keywords:
metaphor, conceptual metaphor, cognitive linguistics, figurative language, pragmatics, discourseAbstract
Metaphor is a central feature of everyday language and is not limited to poetry, literature, or deliberate rhetorical expression. People routinely use metaphorical expressions to describe time, emotions, relationships, knowledge, argument, and social experience. This article examines metaphor from a linguistic and cognitive perspective, focusing on how recurring figurative patterns influence everyday communication. Drawing primarily on conceptual metaphor theory and subsequent pragmatic and discourse-oriented approaches, the discussion considers the relationship between metaphorical language, conceptualization, context, and culture. Expressions such as describing an argument as a journey, time as a resource, or emotional states as locations demonstrate that speakers often understand abstract experiences through more concrete domains. The article also examines metaphor in education, media, and interpersonal communication, emphasizing that interpretation depends on shared knowledge and context. Understanding metaphor as a systematic component of language provides insight into how speakers organize experience and communicate complex ideas.
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