Why Do Some People Dislike Conceptual Metaphor Theory?

Abstract

Conceptual metaphor theory (CAIT) is the dominant force in the contemporary world of interdisciplinary metaphor studies. Over the past thirty years, scholars working within the CMT framework have gathered an impressive body of empirical research using a variety of linguistic, psychological, and computational modeling methods drat supports key parts of the theory However, CMT has also been widely been criticized - both as a theory of metaphor use and for its claims about the embodied, metaphorical character of abstract thought. This article describes some of die reasons people dislike CMT and suggests ways that CMT scholars may alter some people’s misunderstandings and address their legitimate concerns about the theory.