Lexical vs. Grammatical Metaphor: A Tale of Two Meanings
Both lexical and grammatical metaphors involve using language in a figurative way, but their differences lie in where the metaphorical meaning is located:
Lexical metaphor:
* Focus: The metaphorical meaning resides in the word itself.
* Example: "She *attacked* the problem" (attack is a physical action, but used metaphorically to describe a mental process)
* Key features:
* Single word or phrase is the metaphorical element.
* Usually understood through a mapping of concepts (e.g., mental problem --> physical enemy)
* Common in everyday language and literature.
Grammatical metaphor:
* Focus: The metaphorical meaning is created by the grammatical structure of the sentence.
* Example: "The car *drives* well" (the car is not performing the action of driving, it is the driver)
* Key features:
* Entire sentence or clause is the metaphorical unit.
* Often involves reification, where abstract concepts are treated as concrete entities.
* Less common in everyday language, more prominent in technical writing and academic discourse.
Here's a table for a quick comparison:
| Feature | Lexical Metaphor | Grammatical Metaphor |
|---|---|---|
| Metaphorical element | Single word or phrase | Sentence structure |
| Meaning creation | Mapping of concepts | Reification of abstract concepts |
| Commonality | Everyday language, literature | Technical writing, academic discourse |
In essence:
* Lexical metaphor is about using words in a figurative way to create an image or association.
* Grammatical metaphor is about restructuring sentences to convey an abstract idea as a tangible entity.
Examples:
* Lexical: "He's a *rock*." (metaphorically comparing the person to the stability of a rock)
* Grammatical: "The *economy* is *recovering*." (reifying the economy as a living entity capable of recovery)
By understanding the distinction between these two types of metaphors, you can better appreciate the nuances of figurative language and how it shapes our understanding of the world.