Metaphors in Language and Thought: Falsification and Multiple Meanings

Abstract

Metaphors are more than figures of speech, because they influence concepts as well as modes of expression. Metaphors also come in types, related to specific topics, such as warlike metaphors used to describe arguments. It is sometimes contended that the root metaphors for these types are implicit. However, there is little reason to suppose influential implicit metaphors govern how people think without their knowing it. There are logical difficulties facing attempts to assert that there are powerful implicit metaphors. Also, many of the groups of metaphors in everyday language indicate words have more than one meaning. Some of these meanings are now conventional, although they were once metaphoric.