What is a mind-as-machine metaphor?

What is a mind-as-machine metaphor?

Definition
	A conventional metaphor in which the mind and its processes are represented as a machine in a condition such as the following:
	in the On or Off mode in a particular level of operational efficiency in a particular state of disrepair

Examples
	Here are some examples in English:
	We're still trying to grind out the solution. Boy, the wheels are turning now! I'm a little rusty today. He broke down.

Generic
	A mind-as-machine metaphor is a kind of
	What is a metaphor for mind?

Source
	Lakoff, G. and Johnson 1980

Context for this page:

Concept module: mind-as-machine 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

© 1999 SIL International