Computers and the Internet are gradually becoming an increasingly inherent part of human life worldwide. Generally people appreciate the existence of computers and the Internet as they facilitate not only work but almost every activity of everyday life (education, leisure, system of communication, relationships). According to Lakoff and Johnson – theoreticians of cognitive metaphor, authors of a thought-provoking book entitled “Metaphors We Live By”(1980), which the author of this thesis will frequently refer to - “ in most of the little things we do every day, we simply think and act more or less automatically along certain lines”. For this reason, the computer and Internet language is learned more or less automatically.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter One
1. Traditional versus cognitive view of metaphor
1.1. Etymology and aspects of metaphor
1.2. The Cognitive Linguistics view of the conceptual metaphor
Chapter Two
Metaphor in the computer and Internet language
Conclusion
References
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper aims to investigate and analyze the pervasive role of cognitive metaphors within the language used for computers and the Internet. It seeks to demonstrate how these conceptual metaphors function as essential devices for rendering complex, abstract technological domains understandable and user-friendly by mapping them onto familiar, tangible concepts from everyday experience.
- Theoretical foundations of cognitive metaphor and metonymy.
- Classification of metaphors based on conventionality, function, and nature.
- Analysis of computer-related metaphors, including office, organism, building, and workshop domains.
- Examination of Internet-based metaphors such as library, ocean, highway, and web.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Traditional versus cognitive view of metaphor
The word “metaphor” originates from the Greek “metaphora” meaning literally to “transfer”. However, as Condon in his Doctoral Thesis on Metaphor in the Human Computer Interface (1999) implies, this is the second meaning of “metaphor” mentioned by Aristotle in his Poetics, which has been adopted by English and other European languages as follows: “Metaphor is the transport to one thing of a name which designates another”.
Dictionary definitions of metaphor identify it frequently as a ‘figure of speech’. However, most linguists agree that metaphor is rather an example of a trope and tropes are more than figures of speech, following Richards' definition: “ The traditional theory ... made metaphor seem to be a verbal matter, a shifting and displacement of words, whereas fundamentally it is a borrowing between an intercourse of thoughts, a transaction between contexts. Thought is metaphoric, and proceeds by comparison, and the metaphors of language derive therefrom.”
Richards formulated the ‘interaction theory’ of metaphor where he underlines the interaction (tension) between the context and the metaphorical expression used therein. In his theory, he introduced a terminology for the components of a metaphor consisting of four major notions: Tenor - the original concept, that is, the subject to which attributes are ascribed, Vehicle - the second concept 'transported' to modify or transform the tenor, that is, the subject from which the attributed are borrowed. Ground – the set of attributes common to the tenor and the vehicle. Tension – the effort requisite to cover the discrepancy between the tenor and the vehicle.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of the role of computers and the Internet in modern life and introduces the theoretical basis for studying computer language through the lens of cognitive metaphor.
Chapter One: Explores the historical and theoretical background of metaphor, contrasting traditional views with the cognitive linguistic perspective, and defines key concepts like mappings, unidirectionality, and metaphor systems.
Chapter Two: Applies the theoretical framework to analyze specific conceptual metaphors in the computer and Internet domains, categorizing them into domains such as office, organism, library, and highway.
Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, confirming that metaphors are essential, deeply engrained tools that make complex computer and Internet domains accessible to average users.
Keywords
Cognitive Metaphor, Conceptual Metaphor, Computer Language, Internet Language, Mapping, Source Domain, Target Domain, Personification, Conventionality, Metonymy, Image Schema, Unidirectionality, Human-Computer Interaction, Interface Design, Entailment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the linguistic analysis of the computer and Internet domains through the framework of cognitive linguistics, specifically conceptual metaphor theory.
What are the primary thematic areas of the study?
The study examines the cognitive roots of metaphor, the systematic mappings between source and target domains, and the practical application of these metaphors in technology.
What is the main objective of this work?
The objective is to demonstrate that conceptual metaphors are not merely stylistic devices but necessary, deeply engrained tools that facilitate the cognitive processing of complex digital environments.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses the theory of cognitive metaphor, primarily based on the work of Lakoff and Johnson, to identify, classify, and analyze metaphorical expressions found in technical and everyday usage.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It covers theoretical definitions in the first chapter and provides a detailed categorization and analysis of specific metaphors used for computers (e.g., Office, Living Organism) and the Internet (e.g., Library, Ocean, Highway).
What are the key terms that characterize this work?
Key terms include conceptual metaphor, mapping, source/target domain, personification, and metonymy, which are used to explain the user-friendly nature of modern technology.
How does the "COMPUTER IS A LIVING ORGANISM" metaphor function?
It maps concepts of health, infection, and lifespan onto computers, helping users understand system states, malfunctions (viruses/bugs), and operational capacity by comparing them to biological entities.
In what way does the "INTERNET IS A LIBRARY" metaphor assist users?
It structures the intangible Internet space by mapping it to a physical location, using familiar terms like 'browsing', 'bookmarks', and 'web pages' to describe information retrieval and storage.
Why is the "COMPUTER IS AN OFFICE" metaphor significant?
It provides a structural framework for organizing digital work, enabling users to interact intuitively with icons like 'folders' and 'desktops' that mimic real-world administrative tasks.
What exception to the unidirectionality principle does the author mention?
The author identifies the "HUMAN BEING IS A COMPUTER" metaphor, where human cognitive abilities or biological functions are described in terms of computer-related concepts like 'software', 'memory', and 'bandwidth'.
- Citar trabajo
- Agnieszka Jasinska (Autor), 2006, Cognitive metaphor as a deeply Ingrained device of computer and internet language, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/89167
