Text Organizing Mechanism of Metaphors in Discourse

Abstract

This paper intends to discuss the discourse function of metaphors, and tries to explore the text organizing mechanism of metaphors in discourse. First, it reviews the past and current researches of metaphors, and finds that metaphors can work not only at the vocabulary and grammar level, but also at the discourse level. Based on the analysis of some examples, it finds that the metaphorical mapping correspondence can work in the discourse development and coherence. The systematic features and coherent features of a metaphor can also help in the discourse coherence. Metaphors can play a great role in text organizing and discourse coherence.