Book Details

'Metaphor', a form of figurative language in which one thing or idea is expressed in terms of another, is becoming an increasingly popular area of study, as it is relevant to the work of semanticists, pragmatists, discourse analysts and also those working at the interface of language and literature and in other disciplines such as philosophy and psychology. This book provides a summary, critique and comparison of the most important theories on how metaphors are used and understood, drawing on research from linguistics, psychology and other disciplines. In order to ground the discussion in actual language use, the book uses examples from discourse, including casual conversations, political speeches, literature, humor, religion and science. Written in a non-technical style, the book includes clear definitions, examples, discussion questions and a glossary, making it ideal for graduate-level seminars.

Theories are illustrated and compared using a common set of examples throughout, which will help readers to understand the similarities as well as the differences among theories
Examples are drawn from actual discourse samples, including conversations, political speeches, news and literature, helping readers to understand how the various theories apply to actual communication
Each chapter includes discussion questions and suggestions for further reading

Advance Praise: ‘’There is an amazing bounty of books on metaphor these days, and David Ritchie’s new volume is among the best. He tackles many of the enduring issues in metaphor scholarship, including debates on the functions of metaphor in thought, language, and the social world, by showing how metaphors work, and serve as resources for people, in an amazing array of discourse situations. Along the way, Ritchie offers important insights on different contemporary theories of metaphor, yet also nicely integrates research from cognitive science, to create a dynamic, context-sensitive account of how metaphorical ideas emerge in everyday life’’. --Raymond W. Gibbs, Jr. University of California, Santa Cruz

“David Ritchie provides a broad, thought-provoking discussion of metaphor and its applications to the real world. His writing is highly accessible, making Metaphor suitable for a wide audience. Highly recommended!” --Dr Jeannette Littlemore, University of Birmingham

‘’David Ritchie's overview of theory and practice in metaphor studies will be really useful to students and others new to the field. It explains and illustrates a range of approaches to this exciting area’’. --Lynne Cameron, Professor of Applied Linguistics, The Open University