Metaphor Interpretation Research Articles

Metaphor Identification and Interpretation in Corpora with ChatGPT

Metaphor Identification and Interpretation in Corpora with ChatGPT

Distinguishing two kinds of fictionalism: metaphor, autism, and the imagination

Fictionalist theories of metaphor hold that metaphorical utterances aim at fictionality. Fictionalism successfully explains speaker judgments about the truth and aptness of metaphorical utterances, and it also accurately predicts the data around metaphor and autistic individuals (who have deficits in both imaginative play and metaphor comprehension). But fictionalism is not a viable theory of metaphor, despite these merits, because of (what I call) the problem of semantic entailment: semantic entailments that are normally valid fail under metaphorical interpretation, but fictionalism predicts otherwise. I argue this to ultimately show that theorists of metaphor should reject the linguistic side of the fictionalist story; but this leaves open the possibility of accepting psychological fictionalism, i.e., the hypothesis that fiction/make-believe is central to the cognitive processing of metaphor. Coupling psychological fictionalism with a different theory of metaphorical meaning and content (such as contextualism) promises to keep the explanatory upsides of traditional fictionalism while avoiding the problem of semantic entailment.

Large Language Model Displays Emergent Ability to Interpret Novel Literary Metaphors

ABSTRACT Despite the exceptional performance of large language models (LLMs) on a wide range of tasks involving natural language processing and reasoning, there has been sharp disagreement as to whether their abilities extend to more creative human abilities. A core example is the interpretation of novel metaphors. Here we assessed the ability of GPT-4, a state-of-the-art large language model, to provide natural-language interpretations of a recent AI benchmark (Fig-QA dataset), novel literary metaphors drawn from Serbian poetry and translated into English, and entire novel English poems. GPT-4 outperformed previous AI models on the Fig-QA dataset. For metaphors drawn from Serbian poetry, human judges – blind to the fact that an AI model was involved – rated metaphor interpretations generated by GPT-4 as superior to those provided by a group of college students. In interpreting reversed metaphors, GPT-4, as well as humans, exhibited signs of sensitivity to the Gricean cooperative principle. In addition, for several novel English poems GPT-4 produced interpretations that were rated as excellent or good by a human literary critic. These results indicate that LLMs such as GPT-4 have acquired an emergent ability to interpret literary metaphors, including those embedded in novel poems.

Interpretation of metaphors in Western films from the perspective of cross-cultural communication - Taking the movie “Green Book” as an example -

Interpretation of metaphors in Western films from the perspective of cross-cultural communication - Taking the movie “Green Book” as an example -

Online Metaphor Comprehension in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Eye Tracking Study

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate novel metaphor comprehension in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous literature is conflicting about whether individuals with ASD have impairment in this particular type of figurative language. Participants in the study completed a visual world paradigm eye-tracking task, which involved selecting an interpretation of an auditorily presented sentence (i.e. a picture-sentence matching task), where images corresponded to literal and metaphorical interpretations. Thus, the study also investigated online processing, via reaction times and eye movements. Forty adults participated in the study (18 with ASD and 22 typically-developing controls). Each participant completed the AQ questionnaire and had their vocabulary assessed. Results showed that participants with ASD comprehended metaphorical utterances with the same accuracy as controls. However, they had significantly slower reaction times, and specifically, were approximately 800 ms slower. Analysis of eye movements revealed that participants with ASD showed significantly longer fixation times on both the target and distractor image, the latter of which suggests difficulty overcoming the literal interpretation. Consistent with some prior studies, we showed that adults with ASD are not impaired in novel metaphor comprehension, but they were clearly less efficient. Verbal abilities did not significantly relate to performance. Finally, our online processing measure (eye tracking) provided us with insights into the nature of the ASD inefficiency (i.e. a literality bias).

Figurativeness of the Japanese flag

Abstract The analysis offered in this article applies the multilevel approach to conceptual metaphor to relief posters, created and distributed widely after the massive Japan 2011 earthquake. The aim of the analysis is to show in what way the multilevel approach to metaphor can be used to illustrate how the figurative meaning of relief posters emerges from the interactions between different levels of schematicity: from basic image schemas and domains, through contextually embedded semantic frames, finishing with metaphorical scenarios at the highest level of specificity and complexity. The present analysis also shows the potential applicability of image schemas as the guiding analytical element, serving as the departure point for the unfolding metaphorical and metonymical interpretation of a multimodal message. Accordingly, it has been shown how the image schemas of part-whole, full-empty, process and force aid the analysis of metaphoricity and how the central metonymic element of the national flag co-constructs the figurative reading of the posters.

Prosocial behaviour enhances evaluation of physical beauty.

Ten studies (N = 4192) demonstrated that individuals depicted as prosocial were judged to be more physically beautiful. This evaluation of prosocial individuals as more beautiful is influenced by a motivation to be associated with prosocial others. This phenomenon was observed in real-world settings (Study 1) and applied to both men and women, both as targets and observers (Studies 2a-2b). The effect persisted in scenarios where participants imagined the target without any visual aid (Study 2c) and extended beyond metaphorical interpretations of beauty (Study 3). The effect weakened when prosocial behaviour was an isolated incident, not indicative of the target's prosocial personality (Study 4). The influence of prosociality on beauty evaluations surpassed that of other positive traits such as intelligence or humour (Study 5) and remained significant despite physical imperfections in the target's appearance (Study 6). The effect diminished insituations where forming a relationship was not feasible, thus supporting the motivated cognition rationale (Studies 7-8). These findings highlight the substantial role of prosocial behaviour in influencing evaluations of physical beauty, a crucial element in social interactions and relationship formation, often outweighing other attributes typically linked to physical appearance evaluation.

Incorporating cross-linguistic and time-based dimensions to Critical Metaphor Analysis: a specialised hands-on analytical approach

ABSTRACT Critical Metaphor Analysis (CMA) regards metaphor as a fundamental means of conceptualising the world, through which the ideology embedded in discourse can be unveiled. Drawing upon the methodologies of Critical Discourse Analysis and Corpus Linguistics, CMA comprises four principle stages: initially, contextual analysis for formulating research questions and selecting texts, followed by metaphor identification, interpretation, and explanation. This schematic four-stage CMA has found widespread applications in analyses of sensitive discourses, particularly political discourses. This study builds upon these schematic four stages, putting forward a more specialised, hands-on analytical approach that is well suited for a range of research objectives in translation and bi/multilingual settings where both cross-linguistic and time-based perspectives can be considered. To provide a step-by-step guide of this cross-linguistic and time-based analytical approach, this study presents two case studies of the Chinese newspaper Global Times’ Chinese-English bilingual COVID-19 reports in 2020. Specifically, metaphor translation and a time series analysis of the attitudinal intensity (strengthening, weakening, or keeping the negativity towards the pandemic unchanged) as manifested through the translation of WAR metaphors were explored. The study concludes by suggesting the application of this analytical approach to other types of metaphor correspondence and time-based analyses.

From Imminent Threat to Metaphor: Gog and Magog in Modern Sunnī Sources

Abstract Gog and Magog are portrayed in the Quran as two malevolent forces that once wreaked havoc on earth and will reappear near the end of time. Hadiths elaborate their natures and actions and served as the principal source for premodern Muslim treatment of the two. In the modern period, Gog and Magog have, besides remaining objects of Quran exegesis, received considerable attention from apocalyptic writers. This article contributes to current scholarship on the modern Muslim discourse on Gog and Magog by examining the views of some notable Sunnī Quran commentators, which have thus far been almost entirely neglected. I show that they adopt either a literal interpretation, whereby Gog and Magog are understood as certain humans, or a metaphorical interpretation, whereby they are conceived as symbols of various phenomena. I also survey, in contrast to most previous researchers, the ideas of several non-Arab writers, especially the Trinidadian Imran Nazar Hosein (b. 1942), author of several apocalyptic works, including a book on Gog and Magog and their dominance in today’s world. My discussion highlights the remarkable diversity of perspectives among Muslim scholars as well as the tendency to demythologize Gog and Magog by either avoiding hadiths or understanding them in light of contemporary circumstances.

Influence of translation on perceived metaphor features: quality, aptness, metaphoricity, and familiarity

Abstract The aim of this study is to examine the effects of translating literary metaphors from Serbian to English on metaphor quality, aptness, metaphoricity, and familiarity. The research involved 55 Serbian metaphors translated into English using the A is B form, which were then evaluated by 252 participants in two separate studies. Study 1 served as an extension of a previous norming study. In it, a group of participants assessed 55 translated literary metaphorical expressions, and their evaluations were compared to those of the original Serbian versions. In Study 2, a group of participants, divided into two subgroups, rated a collection of both the original metaphorical expressions and their translated counterparts. The results indicate that the translated metaphors generally scored higher in terms of aptness, familiarity, quality, and partially in metaphoricity. These findings suggest that translating the metaphors into English had a positive impact on their perceived effectiveness and familiarity. Several factors are considered to explain these outcomes, including the nature of the English language itself, the participants’ exposure to English, and the translation process. Overall, this study highlights the influence of translation on the perception of literary metaphors and provides insights into metaphor interpretation.

A STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OF THE RUSSIAN TRANSLATION OF CHARACTER EPITHETS IN THE NOVEL “A DREAM OF RED MANSIONS” BASED ON THE THEORY OF CONCEPTUAL METAPHOR

In the novel “A Dream of Red Mansions” the author Cao Xueqin connects the characters’ nicknames with the characters themselves and the themes of the work, forming the epithet metaphor. The translation of these metaphors has a far-reaching significance for cross-cultural communication. Thus, the object of our research includes the personal names and nicknames of the novel’s characters, with a special focus on their translation into Russian. The aim of the paper is to confirm or question the adequacy of the translation technique adopted by the translator in each particular case. Based on the conceptual metaphor theory, this paper sorts out some epithets in the 1958 Russian translation of “A Dream of Red Mansions,” explores the formation mechanism of epithet metaphor in the combination of literary and cultural contexts, and puts forward corresponding translation strategies for different interpretations of metaphor in different cultural contexts. The originality of research consists, first, in examining both personal names and nicknames and, second, in evaluating each technique employed by the translator in the light of both the linguo-cultural and text-centered approaches.

FROM AVERSION TO ENGAGEMENT: TRANSFORMING EFL HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS’ APPROACH TO ENGLISH IDIOMS THROUGH ROLE-PLAYING

The goal of this study is to improve EFL students' exposure to English language acquisition while preventing boredom. In order to get insight into the teaching-learning environment of the classroom and the speaking abilities of EFL students, the researcher used classroom action research. She conducted interviews with the English teacher and students as well as performed observations and administered assessments. With deliberate sampling, this method enables the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. The pre-test, cycle 1 post-test, and cycle 2 post-test results all showed that EFL students' comprehension of idiomatic speech had significantly increased after using role-playing techniques, as recommended by the study. EFL students performed poorly in the first cycle, as evidenced by their average theoretical score of 62.57 and their 28.57% success rate on the practical test. The EFL mean score on the theoretical test increased to 80.00 in the second cycle with modifications, while the practical test success rate increased to 85.71%. This illustrates how the role-playing technique affects idiomatic speech in EFL. The study also discovered that learners prioritize specific word meanings over metaphorical interpretations, in contrast to native speakers. In the end, the study emphasizes how important it is to take perceptions into account while assessing idiom learning and processing.

Literary Metaphor Comprehension in the Rational and Experiential Cognitive Styles of Human Thinking

Prior research on the poetic metaphor interpretation has focused on describing metaphoric structure and identifying its principles by observing semantically mapped properties of a metaphor. Cognitive literary studies have highlighted an experimental approach to the metaphoric thinking. The experimental approach examines, among others, the empirical processes of metaphor interpretation and comprehension. For metaphor processing, emergent meanings are crucial. We already have many reports, findings and normative data on metaphor processing, but individual cognitive mechanisms and variations across people have received an insufficient attention. To address this issue, this empirical study examines the influence of rational (analytical) and experiential (intuitive) cognitive styles on the comprehension of a poetic literary metaphor. In our statistical analysis, we have used a fractional pooling of the participants. It highlights the non-identical metaphor processes in rational and experiential cognitive preferences. According to our findings, people with a preference for the experiential cognitive style produce relatively more emergent metaphorical meanings than people with a preference for the rational cognitive style. These findings contribute to the more complex knowledge of the metaphoric thinking consequences. Keywords: Literary metaphor; Interpretation of metaphor; Rational (analytical) cognitive style; Experiential (intuitive) cognitive style; Emergent metaphorical meaning

Characteristics and translation of metaphorical language in traditional Chinese medicine texts

This article is devoted to the study of the characteristics of metaphorical language and its translation in the texts of traditional Chinese medicine. The research subject of this article is metaphorical language in TCM texts. The characteristics of the metaphorical language of TCM texts determine that translation should focus on cross-cultural communication and meaning interpretation. The purpose of the study is to investigate, learn how to accurately decipher metaphorical language and convey the connotation of these metaphorical expressions, so as to promote the effective dissemination of TCM culture in intercultural communication. And also - to reduce misunderstandings caused by cultural and linguistic differences, to improve the quality and accuracy of translations of TCM texts, to build a better linguistic bridge for TCM to the world. In terms of research methodology, this paper uses the method of literature study - extensive collection of relevant information and detailed interpretation of typical metaphorical expressions, as well as the method of comparative analysis - comparing the differences in the use of metaphorical language in different literatures. Scientific novelty is reflected in the in-depth interpretation and translation of TCM metaphors. Through an in-depth study of TCM theories and practices, the scientific principles underlying metaphors are revealed and presented to readers in a clearer and more accurate way. At the same time, innovative translation methods such as the method of literal translation with commentary, the free translation method, etc., allow readers to better understand the unique meaning of TCM metaphors. Through in-depth analysis, it is found that metaphorical language has important characteristics such as imagery, cultural relevance and polysemy, and is an important cognitive approach and tool in Chinese medicine and at the same time not only embodies a special description of physiological phenomena, but also a unique cognitive marker of alternative psychophysiological communication.

Invisible and Visible Hands. What Kind of Economist is Adam Smith, and Why is He Still Relevant?

ABSTRACT Adam Smith’s works are investigated to provide better understandings of his contributions to economics and social science. The main issues discussed are the roles of invisible and visible hands; his general theories concerning human nature, moral philosophy, and socioeconomic formations; his proposal for major socioeconomic reform; whether he was a political economist or the ‘father’ of Neoclassicism; the nature of metaphorical interpretations; and why his thought still remains relevant.

Metaphoric visual expressions in African art: an iconographical analysis of selected artworks by contemporary visual artists

Contemporary African artworks in their diversity are rich carriers of cultural meaning and values. In African art, there is an evolution in the context of visual metaphors as artists create narratives that are cognisant of global aesthetic developments. This study examines the creation and interpretation of indigenous visual metaphors by four selected contemporary Zimbabwean visual artists. An interpretive research design was used and this informed the use of in-depth interviews with purposively selected artists, studio observations, and artwork analysis to generate data. The diversity of art genres, media, and the creation of metaphoric artworks determined the sampling of artists. Findings revealed that visual metaphoric creations were inspired by community experiences and other artists. Visual metaphors were pronounced as vehicles for transmitting community messages. This study recommends extending the creation and interpretation of indigenous visual metaphors to the art education curriculum to inform culturally relevant and diverse practices.

How Mandarin-English bilinguals interpret qián/forward: impact of language proficiencies on retrieval of temporal concepts.

Mandarin qián and English forward are semantically equivalent in the domain of Space, but could be semantically opposite in the domain of Time. In other words, equivalent spatial lexical items could convey opposite temporal concepts. What temporal concepts conveyed by qián and forward would be retrieved by Mandarin-English (M-E) bilinguals with different language proficiencies? Drawing a sample from college students in Mainland China, this study examines how L1 and L2 proficiencies would affect M-E bilinguals' retrieval of temporal concepts by examining their interpretation of the Mandarin temporal metaphor of qián and the English temporal metaphors of forward. The results show that L1 temporal concepts would be retrieved more frequently than L2 temporal concepts regardless of the testing languages, that L1 and L2 proficiencies were not predictors for the way of interpretation, and that the higher L2 proficiency group could retrieve temporal concepts in line with the testing languages with higher accuracy than the lower L2 proficiency group. The findings suggest that bilinguals with higher L2 proficiency may be able to represent temporal concepts with language tags or may have an attentional and/or inhibitory control advantage.

Novel Metaphor Recognition, Interpretation and Construction: Barriers Face Kurds as Non-native English Speakers

This study which is titled ‘Novel Metaphor Recognition and Interpretation: Barriers Face Kurds as Non-native English speakers’ considers the recognition and the interpretation process difficulty of English novel metaphors. Novel metaphor is one of the most problematic types of metaphor in which its creation, recognition and interpretation usually require a higher level of efficiency. This sort of metaphor is highly connected with personal established conceptual systems which probably cause misunderstanding among interactants: native and non-native ones. This study aims at identifying novel metaphor, determining the nature of problems that Kurds as non-native English speakers face in recognizing novel metaphors in English. Thus, it would be helpful for both non-native English learners and speakers to improve their English comprehension and construction competence. The current study makes use of both quantitative and qualitative approach in the process of data analysis; and it has come up with the conclusion that the insufficiency in English communicative language competence, cognitive analysis proficiency, and background knowledge are three main problems in the process of recognizing and interpreting novel metaphors.

Теоретические предпосылки изучения ФЕ-терминов и их вариантов в английском языке делового общения

This article studies theoretical material in the field of phraseology and terminology of business English, placing special emphasis on the variability of phraseological units and terms. The paper presents an analytical review of recent and relevant dissertations, monographs and research articles on business phraseology and terminology as well as variability thereof. The lexical composition of business language and the role of phraseological units in it are examined. The review lists a number of articles explaining the trend towards phraseologization of numerous terms used in business communication. Further, the paper studies current views on the structure of the meaning of the term and examines three main approaches to the definition of the term. Special attention is paid to the motivation of terms and lack of motivation of phraseological terms. The process of terms becoming phraseological units and vice versa is investigated, as well as the transfer of existing phraseological terms into a new phraseological-semantic field; terms describing these processes are considered. Further, the review mentions academic works looking into ways of enriching the terminology of modern business English with new phraseological terms, which include metaphorical and metonymic interpretations of the prototype. In addition, studies into phraseological variation are presented, analysing the concept of phraseological variant and its typological classifications; works on terminological variation are listed. The phenomenon of variation is considered in terms of both expression and content. The review of existing scholarly works confirms the need for further careful research into phraseological terms and their variants.

The comparison of colour idioms in english and karakalpak languages

This article investigates and compares idiomatic expressions related to colours in English and Karakalpak languages. Colours hold significant cultural and linguistic significance, often reflected in idiomatic expressions. Through a comparative analysis, this research aims to uncover similarities and differences in how colours are metaphorically used in these two languages. The methodology involves collecting a corpus of colour-related idioms from English and consulting native speakers and language experts to gather comparable idiomatic expressions in Karakalpak. The idioms are then analyzed in terms of their literal meanings, metaphorical interpretations, cultural contexts, and frequency of usage.