chapter11

小石卒

Summary:
The construction of conceptual metaphors is partial. Take "theory is architecture" as an example. In this metaphor, only some parts of the architectural concept are used to construct the concept of theory, such as the foundation and the shell, while other parts like rooms and staircases are not utilized. Language expression is thus divided into ordinary literal language that reflects the "used" part of the metaphor, such as "He has constructed a theory." and imaginative language that involves the "unused" part of the metaphor or novel metaphors, such as "His theory has thousands of little rooms and long, winding corridors." ”。 There are also some special and isolated metaphorical expressions, such as "the foot of the mountain (山脚)", which occupy a marginal position in culture and language and interact less with other metaphorical concepts.
The chapter emphasizes that systematic metaphorical expressions, which are deeply ingrained in our actions and thoughts, are "alive", while isolated cases are relatively "dead", though they still have some minimal presence in our conceptual system.
Reflection:
After reading yhis chapter, I realize that the metaphors we use are not comprehensive but rather selective in how they structure our understanding. When I think about theories, I unconsciously draw on the "THEORIES ARE BUILDINGS" metaphor, focusing on aspects like the strength of the argument (foundation) and its overall structure. i think it's really interesting.
But in my opinion, this partial structuring allows for efficiency in communication  also has limitations. It may lead us to overlook other important aspects of a concept that are not covered by the metaphor.For example, in the case of a theory, the metaphor of a building doesn't account for the creativity and fluidity involved in its development.
Moreover, the concept of "dead" and "alive" metaphors is thought - provoking. I now see that some metaphors are so deeply embedded in our language that we use them without even realizing, like the various expressions related to "TIME IS MONEY". On the other hand, less common metaphors might have potential for adding new depth to our understanding if we were to explore their unused parts.
This makes me more conscious of the metaphors I use daily and how they might be shaping my perception of the world in both obvious and subtle ways. I'm also curious to explore how different cultures might have different dominant metaphors and how these variations could lead to different ways of thinking and understanding.