What is metaphorical entailment?

Definition
	A metaphorical entailment is the imparting of a characteristic of the source domain (the metaphorical image) to the target domain (the concept receiving metaphorical treatment) by logical means.

Examples (English)

The metaphorical entailment “an argument defines a path” is derived from the premise that “a journey defines a path” and the argument-as-journey metaphor, whereby “an argument is a journey,” and which is expressed in the following sentences:

He strayed from the line of argument.
Do you followmy argument?
I'm lost.
You're going around in circles.

Source:
Lakoff, G. and Johnson 1980 90

Source
	Lakoff, G. and Johnson 1980 89–91

Context for this page:

Concept module: metaphorical entailment
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): M
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, 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: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004