Diachronic data analysis supports and refines conceptual metaphor theory

Abstract

Our empirical analysis confirms the fundamental assumption in conceptual metaphor theory that metaphors are enduring linguistic and cognitive structures, not merely rhetorical figures. Complex systems tools identified a metaphor network with systematic separation of abstract and concrete categories, and two significant metaphorical processes: mappings from concrete to abstract topics and the emergence of new mappings between concrete domains. Metaphors concentrate on two small sets of everyday topics. One within the concrete group serves as both strong source and target domains, while the other, in the abstract group, primarily acts as targets. These findings can serve as confirmation that metaphor is a creative process emerging primarily from difference and tension between topics which allow (re-)conceptualizations and the display of new similarities.