Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1474924 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Language Sciences |
| Volume | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Dec 2024 |
Abstract
The present study aims to understand how metaphors are used in explanations. According to many current theories, metaphors have a conceptual function for the understanding of abstract objects. From this theoretical assumption, we derived the hypothesis that the lower the expertise of the addressee of an explanation, the more metaphors should be used. We tested this hypothesis on a relatively natural data set of 24 published videos with close to 100,000 words overall in which experts explain abstract, mostly scientific concepts to persons of different expertise, varying from minimal (children) to profound (expert). Contrary to our expectations, the frequency of metaphors did not decrease with expertise, but actually increased. This increase could be statistically substantiated with higher differences in expertise. The study contributes to a better understanding of the use of metaphors in actual explanatory processes and how metaphor use depends on contextual factors. It thus supports the expansion of the conceptual and linguistic perspective on metaphors to include the aspect of how metaphors are used by speakers.
Keywords
- conceptual metaphor, conceptual metaphor theory, explaining, explanation, metaphor, metaphor usage
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology(all)
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Social Sciences(all)
- Linguistics and Language
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In: Frontiers in Language Sciences, Vol. 3, 1474924, 18.12.2024.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - When to use a metaphor
T2 - Metaphors in dialogical explanations with addressees of different expertise
AU - Scharlau, Ingrid
AU - Körber, Miriam
AU - Sengupta, Meghdut
AU - Wachsmuth, Henning
N1 - Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2024 Scharlau, Körber, Sengupta and Wachsmuth.
PY - 2024/12/18
Y1 - 2024/12/18
N2 - The present study aims to understand how metaphors are used in explanations. According to many current theories, metaphors have a conceptual function for the understanding of abstract objects. From this theoretical assumption, we derived the hypothesis that the lower the expertise of the addressee of an explanation, the more metaphors should be used. We tested this hypothesis on a relatively natural data set of 24 published videos with close to 100,000 words overall in which experts explain abstract, mostly scientific concepts to persons of different expertise, varying from minimal (children) to profound (expert). Contrary to our expectations, the frequency of metaphors did not decrease with expertise, but actually increased. This increase could be statistically substantiated with higher differences in expertise. The study contributes to a better understanding of the use of metaphors in actual explanatory processes and how metaphor use depends on contextual factors. It thus supports the expansion of the conceptual and linguistic perspective on metaphors to include the aspect of how metaphors are used by speakers.
AB - The present study aims to understand how metaphors are used in explanations. According to many current theories, metaphors have a conceptual function for the understanding of abstract objects. From this theoretical assumption, we derived the hypothesis that the lower the expertise of the addressee of an explanation, the more metaphors should be used. We tested this hypothesis on a relatively natural data set of 24 published videos with close to 100,000 words overall in which experts explain abstract, mostly scientific concepts to persons of different expertise, varying from minimal (children) to profound (expert). Contrary to our expectations, the frequency of metaphors did not decrease with expertise, but actually increased. This increase could be statistically substantiated with higher differences in expertise. The study contributes to a better understanding of the use of metaphors in actual explanatory processes and how metaphor use depends on contextual factors. It thus supports the expansion of the conceptual and linguistic perspective on metaphors to include the aspect of how metaphors are used by speakers.
KW - conceptual metaphor
KW - conceptual metaphor theory
KW - explaining
KW - explanation
KW - metaphor
KW - metaphor usage
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105013897635&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/flang.2024.1474924
DO - 10.3389/flang.2024.1474924
M3 - Article
VL - 3
JO - Frontiers in Language Sciences
JF - Frontiers in Language Sciences
M1 - 1474924
ER -