Metaphor in Discourse

This book discusses metaphor at work in a variety of linguistic contexts, from election leaflets to specialist scientific articles.

Elena Semino (Author)

9780521686969, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 4 September 2008

260 pages, 3 b/w illus. 1 table
22.7 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.43 kg

'Metaphor in Discourse successfully illustrates a diverse range of functions for metaphor … accessible and lively throughout and there is sustained quality of illustration and of argumentation … another valuable contribution in the burgeoning field of metaphor studies.' Journal of Sociolinguistics

'Metaphor' is the phenomenon whereby we talk and, potentially, think about something in terms of something else. In this book Elena Semino discusses metaphor as a common linguistic occurrence, which is varied in its textual appearance, versatile in the functions it may perform, and central to many different types of communication, from informal interaction to political speeches. She discusses the use of metaphor across a variety of texts and genres from literature, politics, science, education, advertising and the discourse of mental illness. Each chapter includes detailed case studies focusing on specific texts, from election leaflets to specialist scientific articles. Also included is a detailed consideration of corpus (computer-based) methods of analysis. Wide-ranging and informative, this book will be invaluable to those interested in metaphor from a range of disciplines.

1. Introduction: studying metaphor in discourse
2. Metaphor in literature
3. Metaphor in politics
4. Metaphor in science and education
5. Metaphor in other genres and discourses: two further case studies
6. Corpora and metaphor
7. Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Psycholinguistics [CFD], Sociolinguistics [CFB], Linguistics [CF]