Abstract
This chapter proposes a critical analysis of the theoretical postulates of the conceptual of metaphor theory (CMT) and an attempt to suggest a comprehensive version of this theory based on empirical evidence and theoretical reflections developed over the last few decades. In particular, the author focuses on five levels of analysis, which can be summarized in five questions: Is it the case that only abstract domains are understood figuratively, or can concrete domains also be understood figuratively? Do conceptual metaphors emerge directly or indirectly from experience? What are the conceptual structures that are involved in conceptual metaphors (domains, frames, image schemas or mental spaces)? Are conceptual metaphors really only “conceptual,” or are they “contextual” as well? Can we have a theory of conceptual metaphors that is both “offline” and “online”? The reflections in this chapter offer a more holistic account of metaphor in real discourse, revaluing the fundamental role of contextual elements in metaphorical thinking.
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