reading note

zll2204

Reading Note 2
Reader: 邹乐琳
Reading Time: 2.5h
Reading Task: Orientational Metaphors, Metaphor and Cultural Coherence, Ontological Metaphors, Personification
Summary of the Content:
Orientational metaphors structure abstract concepts through spatial frameworks, such as RATIONAL IS UP/EMOTIONAL IS DOWN, grounding our understanding of emotions, values, and experiences in physical orientation. These metaphors are culturally coherent and reflect societal priorities.
Ontological metaphors further shape thought by treating ideas, mental states, and events as objects, substances, or containers. For example, ideas become entities we “put into words”, and emotions are framed as containers, enabling quantification and action. Metaphors also function in language to refer , quantify, identify causes, and set goals. Boundaries and containers help organize experiences, from territoriality to framing events as bounded entities. Crucially, metaphors like INFLATION IS AN ADVERSARY shape actions and policies by transforming complex phenomena into relatable human terms, justifying responses like economic strategies.
Overall, metaphors—both orientational and ontological—structure how we perceive, reason, and act, bridging the abstract with the tangible through culturally embedded frameworks.
Evaluation:
Language Style:
The passage uses a formal, academic tone with precise terminology (e.g., “orientational metaphors”, “ontological metaphors”) to explain complex cognitive frameworks. It balances theoretical explanations with concrete examples (e.g., RATIONAL IS UP), making abstract ideas accessible.
Theme:
The central theme is how metaphors structure human thought and culture by mapping abstract concepts onto spatial, physical, and social frameworks. It explores how these metaphors influence values, language, and even policy, revealing their role in shaping perception, action, and societal norms.
Thought:
The passage effectively demonstrates how metaphors like CONTAINER or ADVERSARY simplify complex phenomena to make them actionable.
Reflection:
This passage deepens my understanding of how metaphors shape thought and culture. For instance, framing inflation as an adversary transforms an abstract economic issue into a relatable “enemy”, justifying aggressive policies. Recognizing metaphors like THE MIND IS A MACHINE also highlights how we unconsciously model mental processes, which can both clarify and limit our understanding. This awareness encourages critical thinking—questioning how metaphorical lenses shape our priorities and actions, from personal decisions to societal narratives.

Reading Note 3
Reader: 邹乐琳
Reading Time: 3h
Reading Task: Metonymy, Challenges to Metaphorical Coherence, The Partial Nature of Metaphorical Structuring, How Is Our Conceptual System Grounded?,  The Grounding of Conceptual Metaphors
Summary of the Content:
The passage delves into metonymy and metaphor as foundational tools for structuring human thought and language. Metonymy, such as THE PART FOR THE WHOLE, allows us to symbolize abstract concepts through physical or relational correlations. These patterns—like FACE FOR PERSON or PLACE FOR EVENT —highlight specific aspects of a whole, shaping how we perceive and interact with the world.
Metaphors, meanwhile, create coherence by linking abstract domains to physical or experiential frameworks. For instance, TIME IS A MOVING OBJECT unifies temporal concepts under motion, while THEORIES ARE BUILDINGS structures understanding around construction and stability. Central metaphors like ARGUMENT IS WAR not only frame communication as conflict but also justify manipulative tactics, revealing how even "rational" discourse often relies on hidden biases.
Culturally, metaphors emerge from shared physical and social experiences. LABOR IS A RESOURCE and TIME IS MONEY reduce human activity and time to quantifiable commodities, obscuring their personal and existential dimensions.         Imaginative language extends these frameworks, transforming literal expressions into figurative ones to explore metaphors more vividly. Ultimately, metaphors and metonymy shape how we conceptualize reality, influencing everything from persuasion to cultural norms, by grounding abstract ideas in tangible, culturally embedded frameworks.
Evaluation:
Language Style:
The text adopts an academic yet accessible tone, blending theoretical concepts with concrete examples to clarify abstract ideas. It uses structured explanations and repetition of key metaphors to reinforce their significance. The language is precise, avoiding excessive jargon while maintaining rigor, which makes the content engaging for both scholars and general readers.
Theme:
The central theme is how metaphor and metonymy shape cognition and culture. It emphasizes that these linguistic tools are not passive but actively construct how we perceive time, argumentation, labor, and social interactions. The text also critiques the hidden biases in seemingly objective discourse, such as how “rational” arguments often rely on metaphorical frameworks that obscure manipulative tactics.
Thought:
The author’s reasoning is systematic and interdisciplinary, drawing from linguistics, psychology, and cultural studies. It challenges readers to recognize the unconscious influence of metaphors on thought, urging critical reflection on how cultural norms emerge and persist. The emphasis on experiential grounding—that metaphors arise from physical and social realities—adds depth, linking abstract concepts to tangible human experiences.
Reflection:
Learning about cultures that prioritize balance or cyclical time made me wonder: What if I saw time as a river instead of a currency? How might that reshape my goals and relationships?
Besides, the text’s warning about metaphors obscuring complexity (e.g., LABOR IS A RESOURCE) made me consider my own language. Do I use metaphors responsibly, or do I default to clichés that flatten nuance? This prompts me to choose language that highlights empathy, not efficiency.