Semantic Wave of Grammatical Metaphor: Dialogue between SFL and LCT

Abstract

This paper is to explore the definition about the congruency and metaphoricity of Grammatical Metaphor in relation to the Semantics of Legitimation Code Theory which derives from the notion of Grammatical Metaphor and Technicality of Systemic Functional Linguistics, and further to look into relations between congruent form, metaphorical form within grammatical metaphor as process and semantic gravity and semantic density. It is concluded that the process of ideational metaphor is characterized as weakening semantic gravity and strengthening semantic density and that of interpersonal metaphor as strengthening semantic gravity and weakening semantic density. The congruent form is manifested with weak grammaticality and weak verticality and metaphorical form with strong grammaticality and verticality so as to provide a legitimate defining evidence for the definition of grammatical metaphor’s congruency and metaphoricity.