Children’s metaphor comprehension and production

Abstract

This article demonstrates the results of the educational project “Word Art Awareness,” which was established in some primary schools in a metropolitan environment (Lodz, Poland). The aim of the study was to identify 8-9- and 9-10-year-old children’s knowledge of the following topic: target domain of the metaphorical mapping (JOY, SADNESS, LOVE, HATRED, FEAR) as well as childlike metaphorical accomplishments related to identification of similarities and differences between destination domain and source metaphor domain through the process of educational environment construction. In designed didactical intervention operations, research data resulted from participant observation, focus interview, and children’s production analysis (graphical visualization, paired-associate learning tasks and tests of unfinished tasks). Research findings show children’s preferences related to the translation of one metaphor discipline through another one as well as construction strate­gies related to children’s knowledge about the emotional aspect and feelings. Moreover, findings suggest the need for a broader understanding of educational environments in Polish educational culture.