What is an idea-as-product metaphor?

A conventional metaphor in which an idea is represented as a product in comparisons such as the following:

• the stage of production of the product represents the state of the development of the idea
• the person engaged in production represents the person who has the idea

Here are some examples in English:

• We're really cranking out new ideas.
• He produces new ideas at an astounding rate.
• We need to take the rough edges off that idea.
• It's a rough idea; it needs to be refined.

• What is a metaphor for rational processes?

Lakoff, G. and Johnson 1980

• Concept module: idea-as-product metaphor
• In modular book: Metaphors in English, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H. Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
• In bookshelf: Lexicon

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 18 September 1998

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