Co-construction of metaphors in Estonian conversation

Abstract

The study1 examines how metaphors are deliberately used in spoken interaction, taking into account their context and combining the analysis of conversational data with new developments in metaphor studies. In doing this, we present Estonian examples of extended metaphors co-constructed in the course of interaction. Steen's framework of deliberate metaphor theory (DMT) presents a useful paradigm to investigate the understudied area in a new way, especially in a language where deliberate metaphors have not yet been studied.In conversation, metaphorical creativity manifests itself in how metaphors are used and spontaneously adapted in the flow of talk (Cameron, 2007), often evoking humour in the process. Our second aim in the study has thus been to demonstrate how metaphor use overlaps with the use of humour in conversation. We suggest that metaphor-related words - central to the procedure of identifying deliberate metaphors (DMIP; see Steen, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015), and understood here as contextually embedded words which bring along potential ambiguity – serve either as indicators of cross-domain mapping, as triggers of humorous effects, or sometimes as both at the same time.Since we assume such deliberate use of metaphors, at least to some extent, contributes to the cultural communication style, as defined in the introduction to this issue, we draw attention to the ways Estonian speakers employ them. This is evident through the unique language-specific references, for example metaphors built on proverbs or phraseology.