Abstract
The two studies reported in the article provide normative measures for 120 novel nominal metaphors, 120 novel similes, 120 literal sentences, and 120 anomalous utterances in Polish (Study 1) and in English (Study 2). The presented set is ideally suited to addressing methodological requirements in research on metaphor processing. The critical (sentence-final) words of each utterance were controlled for in terms of their frequency per million, number of letters and syllables. For each condition in each language, the following variables are reported: cloze probability, meaningfulness, metaphoricity, and familiarity, whose results confirm that the sentences are well-matched. Consequently, the present paper provides materials that can be employed in order to test the new as well as existing theories of metaphor comprehension. The results obtained from the series of normative tests showed the same pattern in both studies, where the comparison structure present in similes (i.e., A is like B) facilitated novel metaphor comprehension, as compared to categorical statements (i.e., A is B). It therefore indicates that comparison mechanisms might be engaged in novel meaning construction irrespectively of language-specific syntactic rules.
Highlights
In studies on language processing, the use of well-controlled stimuli is crucial, especially in research employing behavioral or neuroimaging methods, whose results are highly influenced by stimuli characteristics, including, but not limited to, word frequency, meaningfulness, and familiarity (Balota et al 2006)
The present paper provides a database on Polish (Study 1) and English (Study 2) novel nominal metaphors, novel similes, literal, and anomalous sentences that have all been normed on a number of factors in order to ensure that they can effectively be employed in further studies on novel metaphoric and literal language processing
Pairwise comparisons further revealed that literal sentences (M = 5.66, SE = .07) were rated as more meaningful than novel similes (M = 4.42, SE = .08), p < .001, novel similes were rated as more meaningful than novel nominal metaphors (M = 3.87, SE = .08), p < .001, and novel nominal metaphors were assessed as more meaningful compared to anomalous utterances (M = 1.80, SE = .06), p
Summary
In studies on language processing, the use of well-controlled stimuli is crucial, especially in research employing behavioral or neuroimaging methods, whose results are highly influenced by stimuli characteristics, including, but not limited to, word frequency, meaningfulness, and familiarity (Balota et al 2006). The present paper provides a database on Polish (Study 1) and English (Study 2) novel nominal metaphors, novel similes, literal, and anomalous sentences that have all been normed on a number of factors in order to ensure that they can effectively be employed in further studies on novel metaphoric and literal language processing Metaphoric utterances, such as That lawyer is a shark, are defined as conveying meanings that do not refer to their literal sense (De Grauwe et al 2010). All of the aforementioned variables influencing the process of metaphor comprehension have been tested in the two present studies, which were aimed to examine the level of predictability, meaningfulness, familiarity, and metaphoricity of Polish (Study 1) and English (Study 2) novel nominal metaphors, novel similes, literal, and anomalous sentences. The study aims to provide stimuli to serve as well-controlled materials perfectly suited to further examine a number of other different aspects of novel metaphoric meaning comprehension, and to test competing theories of how novel metaphors are constructed and processed in the human brain
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
