Creative metaphors in video lessons: The relationship between the novel and the conventional

Abstract

The metaphors used in non-poetic contexts are mostly conventional. This study, which is part of a broader research, analyzes the emergence of – and the relationship between – conventional and novel/creative metaphors in Biology video lessons.2 The theoretical basis is composed of the Theory of Conceptual Metaphor (LAKOFF; JOHNSON, 2002; LAKOFF; TURNER, 1989) and the Perspective of Metaphor in Discourse (SEMINO, 2008). Thus, the general objective of this paper is to verify the emergence of conceptual and linguistic metaphors produced by teachers in Biology video lessons, as well as to analyze their degree of novelty and/ or conventionality. The data analyzed came from YouTube video subtitles, and the methodology used to identify metaphors in speech was the MIP (PRAGGLEJAZ GROUP, 2007). The results indicate that creative metaphors are present in the discourse of these teachers and play a relevant role in the presentation of scientific content.