Types of Resistance to Metaphor

Abstract

The appropriateness and persuasiveness of using metaphors has become subject of debate in both the academic and the public arena. Recent studies have shown that particular metaphors give rise to resistance, yet the nature of metaphor resistance is still hardly explored. This paper therefore examines the ways in which metaphors can be explicitly resisted, focusing on metaphors that are used in argumentative discourse. We propose an analytical tool, a typology of resistance to metaphor, to distinguish grounds for language users to reject unacceptable metaphors, based on the parameter of focus of the resistance and norms appealed to in the resistance. We applied the typology in a small corpus-analytical study using Twitter replies. Our results show that most resistance was based on discussion rules and focused on the proposition of metaphor, yet resistance focused on the situation, person or locution also occurred.