When evaluating concepts people tend to use metaphors linking spatial location and affect, thus judging positive concepts to be up and negative down (e.g. feeling high and being down; Meier & ...Robinson, 2004). Space and information on proximity is used when describing similarities between concepts - research shows that separating hands in the task of binary categorization decreases task interference and cognitive load (Casasanto, 2008). The aim of this study was to test these assumptions, as well as effects valence and spatial location that words might have on subsequent recall of these words. Participants' (N=175) task was to evaluate the valence of words presented either at the top or at the bottom of the screen, and to answer by pressing either close or distant keys on the keyboard. Reaction time and accuracy were recorded. Furthermore, participants took part in the surprise free recall test. Their answers in free recall task were categorized according to the valence of the recalled word and the location of its presentation during the experiment. Results show faster response times when positive words were presented at the top of the screen as opposed to the bottom of the screen. Separating hands, while answering, had no effect on the response speed. Participants remembered more positive than negative words. Separating hands in the categorization task resulted in higher free recall. Results are discussed within the merits of current findings on metaphorical representation of affect. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Movement psychotherapy (MP), and dance/movement therapy (DMT), are body-orientated psychotherapy approaches that use movement for the integration of emotional, cognitive, physical, social and ...spiritual aspects of self (European Association Dance Movement Therapy, 2010). It is distinctively a combination of moving and sensing the body with verbal self-reflection (Bloom, 2006). Several papers have presented DMT as a treatment in general medical care and cancer care, but there is still a paucity of evidence-based studies. The authors describe a clinical case illustrative of many of the situations in which facing death was particularly tormenting. The emotional pressure can produce a barrier of communication with the risk of rupturing the therapeutic relationship. The movement therapist's function is to clarify the elements of body language and this has important implications for clinical practice because the end-of-life decisions are difficult, like palliative sedation therapy (PST). Even if procedural guidelines for PST help physicians and care teams through the decision-making process and make them more comfortable when responding to physical suffering, physicians more frequently report an emotional pressure when their patients experience psychological symptoms, with the risk that PST could become a potential "counterphobic defence to treat".
'n Ondersoek word ingestel na bepaalde kondisies wat die aard van metafoorgebruik onderlê en eers moontlik maak. Dit blyk dat die onderskeiding tussen letterlike en figuurlike taalgebruik ...eersgenoemde nie bo die algemeen-interpretatiewe aard van alle taalgebruik verhef nie, waaruit volg dat nie alle taalgebruik metafories is nie. Aristoteles se bydrae verg dat gelet word op die verband tussen logos, analogon en alogos wat verband hou met die verskil tussen begrip en woord en na die gegewe dat 'n metafoor iets wat "sin-strydig" (άλογον) is, bevat. 'n Vergelyking is nie 'n metafoor nie. Die Ilias van Homeros se metaforiese gebruik van die woord leeu word opgevolg deur te let op die hipoteties-fiktiewe kant van 'n metafoor. Die onderskeidenheid van begrip en woord maak tipiese semantiese verskynsels eers moontlik. Die voortgesette bespreking belig ook die rol van die menslike inbeeldingsvermoë in metafoorgebruik en vestig ten slotte die aandag op die aard van egte analogieë - wat na vore tree wanneer twee gegewens ooreenstem in die opsig waarin hulle verskil. Ten slotte word die elf kondisies of voorwaardes waaraan in die artikel aandag geskenk is, bondig puntsgewys saamgevat. Conditions of possibility for the use of metaphor Faced with the vast literature on the nature of metaphoricity, this article restricts its investigation to some of the prominent conditions underlying and making metaphors possible - thus pursuing a transcendental-empirical approach - where the word transcendental does not have an epistemological but rather an ontic meaning. Making a distinction between literal and figurative language-use does not elevate the former above the general interpretative nature of all language-use and at the same time does not mean we have to accept the view that all language is metaphorical. A brief explanation of the etymology of the word metaphor is followed up by referring to the well-known fourfold distinction made by Aristotle. In particular, the fourth element of Aristotle's reflection on the nature of metaphor generated attention for the connection between logos, analogon and alogos - terms pointing towards the difference between concept and word and to the fact that a metaphor contains something nonsensical ("Sinnwidrig" or "Widersinnig," a "meaning-contradiction" - άλογον). Boyle (Black 1998:21) alludes to the "mystery" of a metaphor which is "simply that, taken as literal, a metaphorical statement appears to be perversely asserting something to be what it is plainly known not to be". An analysis of the relationship between comparison (as a simile) and a metaphor in particular, highlights the nature of similarities which, in connection with Aristotle's approach, also bears upon identity. Within the context of his distinction between discrete quantity and continuous quantity, Aristotle discerns an equality of ratios. Just like a comparison contains four elements - where the element of comparison is taken twice, every point of division on a continuum is also taken twice - as end-point of the one part and as starting-point of the other. An assessment of the nature of a comparison and a metaphor brings to light that although the former is foundational to the latter, the two cannot be equated, because the words employed in a comparison maintain their meanings without any transfer of meaning.
The paper first gives an overview of theories and research directions that have influenced the formation of the neural theory of language and thought: objectivism, cognitivism, functionalism (strong ...AI vs. embodied AI), categorization, embodied cognition, mirror neurons discovery, Hebbian learning, Spike–Time–Dependent Plasticity. Then, an overview of the key theoretical assumptions and concepts of neural theory of language and thought is provided: the relationship between neural theory of language and cognitive linguistics, J. Feldman’s simulation semantics, types of neural networks, and Embodied Construction Grammar. Finally, attention is directed to metaphor and metaphorical thought in the context of this theory by providing a brief overview of the basic assumptions of neural theory of metaphor.
Although conceptual metaphor (Lakoff and Johnson 1980) is undoubtedly one of the fundamental
segments in various cognitive linguistic theories, there are still many disputes concerning its ...motivation, cultural specificity, and processing. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of key
theoretical issues, unifying them into a coherent model which may be used as the basis for operationalization. The paper deals with two major problems: the motivation of conceptual metaphors and their dynamicity. We present an integrated approach to conceptual metaphor. On the one hand, we recognize the dynamicity of metaphor as a cognitive mechanism of connecting two domains of knowledge in real time. On the other hand, we do not exclude the conventionality of certain connections, thus enabling a general conceptual and textual analysis. The duality of metaphor is also reflected in their motivation. Rather than separating cultural motivation and embodiment, we argue for an approach in which conceptual metaphor is seen as equally grounded in cultural and embodied experiences which are part of central knowledge. Central knowledge is a
metonymical principle motivating conceptual metaphors within a certain community. Central knowledge is construed by and dependent on the cultural community, constraining the scope of what may be seen as culturally–universal or culturally–specific. Common embodied and cultural experiences motivate the creation of similar metaphors, and divergent experiences (or different interpretations of the same experience) cause variation. In the object vs. process debate we advocate the middle way. On the one hand, we recognize the dynamicity of conceptual metaphors as a construal process in real time, analyzable in terms of conceptual integration. On the other hand, we do not reject the possible conventionality of some connections, recognizing the analytical convenience of conceptual metaphors as static entities in conceptual and textual analysis.
Die metafoor van Jahwe as geneser in die profetiese boeke van die Ou Testament Die metafoor van Jahwe as geneser is nie 'n sentrale metafoor in die Ou Testament nie, maar dit vervul tog 'n belangrike ...rol in die profetiese boeke. Hierdie artikel bied 'n paar moontlike antwoorde op die volgende vraag: Hoe het die Ou-Testamentiese profete Jahwe as geneser of heler uitgebeeld? In baie gevalle word die metafoor deur die Hebreeuse werkwoord Èàæ met Jahwe as subjek oorgedra. Volgens die profete behels Jahwe se genesing meer as blote fisiese genesing. The profetiese boeke fokus meer op die geestelike genesing van Israel en Juda as op die fisiese genesing van 'n individu (vgl. Jes. 57:18-19; Jer. 3: 22; 30:17; Hos. 14:5 4). In sommige gevalle bied Jahwe omvatende verlossing of konkrete beloftes vir 'n "siek" volk. Hierdie omvattende genesing of gesondmaking sluit die volgende in: die herbou van die stad en tempel, vergifnis van sonde, en vreugde en voorspoed (Jer. 30:17; 33:6; Eseg. 47:8-12). Jahwe se genesing was nie beperk tot sy uitverkore volk nie. Hy het selfs genesing vir Egipte (Jes. 19:22) en Babilon aangebied (Jer. 51:8-9). Yahweh as healer is not a major metaphor in the Old Testament, but it nevertheless plays a significant role in the prophetic books. In many instances this metaphor is conveyed by the Hebrew root Èàæ with Yahweh as subject. This article offers a few possible responses to the following question: How did the prophets portray Yahweh as healer? According to the prophets, Yahweh's healing was more than a medically verifiable physical process. The prophetic books focus more on the spiritual healing of Israel and Judah than on the physical healing of an individual (cf. Is. 57:18-19; Jer. 3:22; 30:17; Hos. 14:5 4). In some instances Yahweh offered comprehensive deliverance or concrete promises for a "sick" nation. This comprehensive healing includes the rebuilding of the city and temple, forgiveness of sins, joy and prosperity (Jer. 30:17; 33:6; Ezek. 47:8-12). Yahweh's healing was not restricted to his elected people alone; he even offered healing to Egypt (Is. 19:22) and Babylon (Jer. 51:8-9).
This book offers a pragmatic account of the interpretation of everyday metaphorical and idiomatic expressions. Using the framework of Relevance Theory, it reanalyses the results of recent ...experimental research on figurative utterances and provides a novel account of the interplay of creativity and convention in figurative interpretation, showing how features 'emerge' during metaphor comprehension and how literal meaning contributes to idiom comprehension. The central claim is that the mind is rather selective when processing information, and that in the pragmatic interpretation of both literal and figurative utterances, this selectivity often results in the creation of new ('ad hoc') concepts or the standardization of pragmatic routines. With this approach, the comprehension of metaphors and idioms requires no special pragmatic principles or procedures not required for the interpretation of ordinary literal utterances, but follows from an automatic tendency towards selective processing which is itself a by-product of Sperber and Wilson's Cognitive Principle of Relevance.
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