chapter 1-3

祘suan

Reader: 王嘉腾

Reading Time: 5.12-5.14

Reading Tasks:  Chapters 1–3  

Summary of the content：  Chapters 1–3 establish the foundational argument that metaphors are central to human cognition, not mere linguistic flourishes. Lakoff and Johnson propose:  
1.Conceptual Metaphors : Metaphors like “ARGUMENT IS WAR” structure our thinking and actions. We unconsciously perceive arguments through war-related terms
2. Systematicity : Metaphors form coherent systems. For instance, “TIME IS MONEY” spawns related metaphors (“save time,” “spend hours”), reflecting cultural values of productivity.  
3. Highlighting & Hiding : Metaphors emphasize certain aspects while obscuring others. The “CONDUIT METAPHOR” (ideas as objects in containers) oversimplifies communication by ignoring context-dependent meanings.  

Evaluation: The authors effectively challenge the traditional view of metaphor as ornamental. Their emphasis on embodied experience (e.g., spatial metaphors like “UP = HAPPY” rooted in physical posture) is compelling. However, the argument occasionally overgeneralizes—cultural variations in metaphors (e.g., non-Western time conceptualizations) are underexplored. The reliance on linguistic examples risks circularity (using language to prove cognitive structures), though the framework remains groundbreaking.  

Reflection: These chapters reshaped my understanding of daily language. For instance, recognizing how “TIME IS MONEY” reflects capitalist values prompts critical reflection: Does this metaphor perpetuate work-centric lifestyles? Similarly, the “ARGUMENT IS WAR” metaphor might normalize adversarial discourse, hindering collaborative problem-solving. The “highlighting and hiding” concept also explains misunderstandings in cross-cultural communication—different metaphors prioritize distinct realities.