A detailed revision and refinement of the "semantic theory of metaphor," this book provides a comprehensive philosophical theory explicating metaphor's cognitive contribution. According to the author, metaphor effects a transference of meaning, not between two terms, but between two structured domains of content, or "semantic fields." Semantic fields, construed as necessary to a theory of word-meaning, provide the contrastive and affinitive relations that govern a term's literal use. In a metaphoric use, these relations are projected into a second domain which is thereby reordered with significant cognitive effects. Amply illustrated with sensitive and systematic analyses of metaphors found in literature, philosophy, science, and quotidian language, this book forges a new understanding of the relation between metaphoric and literal meaning.
Introduction; Towards a perspectival theory; The identification of metaphor; An interlude concerning context: A relational theory of meaning; Intepreting metaphor; Some alternative approaches: A critique; Semantic field theory; Semantic fields and the structure of metaphor; concluding remarks: Reference and truth in metaphor; Bibliography; Index
Show moreA detailed revision and refinement of the "semantic theory of metaphor," this book provides a comprehensive philosophical theory explicating metaphor's cognitive contribution. According to the author, metaphor effects a transference of meaning, not between two terms, but between two structured domains of content, or "semantic fields." Semantic fields, construed as necessary to a theory of word-meaning, provide the contrastive and affinitive relations that govern a term's literal use. In a metaphoric use, these relations are projected into a second domain which is thereby reordered with significant cognitive effects. Amply illustrated with sensitive and systematic analyses of metaphors found in literature, philosophy, science, and quotidian language, this book forges a new understanding of the relation between metaphoric and literal meaning.
Introduction; Towards a perspectival theory; The identification of metaphor; An interlude concerning context: A relational theory of meaning; Intepreting metaphor; Some alternative approaches: A critique; Semantic field theory; Semantic fields and the structure of metaphor; concluding remarks: Reference and truth in metaphor; Bibliography; Index
Show moreIntroduction; Towards a perspectival theory; The identification of metaphor; An interlude concerning context: A relational theory of meaning; Intepreting metaphor; Some alternative approaches: A critique; Semantic field theory; Semantic fields and the structure of metaphor; concluding remarks: Reference and truth in metaphor; Bibliography; Index
'it offers a sustained polemic for a conception of meaning, in
terms of Semantic Field theory...one might think of its capacity to
deal with the vexed question of metaphor as one reason why this
sort of theory deserves more popularity than perhaps it presently
enjoys'
British Journal of Aesthetics
`Detailed and sophisticated ... I regard Kittay's work on metaphor
as state-of-the-art ... Philosophically oriented students of
metaphor will welcome this book.'
Canadian Philosophical Reviews
'Kittay's book is scholarly and enlightening.'
Times Literary Supplement
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