Chapter 6:Ontological Metaphors

芋圆

My Summary of Chapter 6
1.In addition to orientational metaphor, ontological metaphor can also help us understand concepts.
2. Ontological metaphors are divided into entity and material metaphors, as well as container metaphors.
3. Our experience with natural objects provides the basis for ontological metaphors. Ontological metaphor is diverse and can be used for various purposes (but most of these purposes are very limited), such as reference and quantification.
4. We regard the human body as a container with two directions, the inside and the outside, and project these directions onto other objects wrapped in the skin. We regard the land area, the field of vision and the state as a container, while conceptualizing events and behaviors as objects and activities as substances (which can be regarded as containers themselves).
My Reflection
Before reading this chapter, I hadn’t fully realized how much our everyday understanding of the world relies on metaphors that treat things as if they were objects, entities, or containers. For instance, I often use “full” or “empty” to describe my mood as if I were a container. It never occurred to me that such expression is a direct result of ontological metaphors.
I also find it interesting how ontological metaphors enable us to conceptualize events or behaviors. For example, when we say someone being "in trouble" or "out of control," we actually use container metaphors as if the person is a container that can hold or be filled with certain qualities, emotions, or states. This new way of thinking gives me a deeper understanding of how our language reflects our experiences and perceptions. It’s like seeing the world through a different lens, where things that once seemed distant or difficult to grasp become more familiar and easier to relate to.