Metaphorical mapping

Such double mapping occurs for signing space as well. For example, the metaphorical mapping between power and height ( power is up ) has... 

In both cases, the individual phrases are locally interpretable, yet the combination is arresting. This boggle response suggests the clash of two inconsistent metaphoric mappings. 

This mixed mapping phenomenon formed the basic idea for the Gentner and Boronat technique. Our method was to set up a metaphoric mapping and then present a further statement either from the same metaphor system or a different one. If subjects are processing the metaphors as a systematic domain mapping, then the inconsistent metaphor should take longer to comprehend. 

Wilcox, P. (1993). Metaphorical mapping in American Sign Language. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of New Mexico. 

To begin, however, we must first have an idea of how space could be used in abstract cognition. The first part of this introduction seeks to illustrate what is meant by spatial schemas, what is meant by abstract cognition, and how the latter may benefit from the former. In the second part, the aim is to identify two important points in formulating accounts of spatial schemas. First, our account of spatial schemas explores the idea that space can be a mechanism for cognition, not merely a metaphor for cognition. Second, our account of spatial schemas aims to identify the nature of the correspondences between space and other domains, and how those correspondences, or mappings, are established. The third part of this introduction proceeds to provide an overview of the contents of the book. 

As Roberts (this volume) observed in the prior chapter, the notion of the cognitive map has had a long and controversial history. Thus, my own review will necessarily be abbreviated and, no doubt, engender at least some additional controversy. (More extensive discussions may be found in Downs, 1981 and in Downs Stea, 1977.) That disclaimer aside, I propose two fundamental, but interdependent, distinctions between cognitive and cartographic maps (1) the medium is internal and mental in the former versus external and palpable in the latter, and (2) formats are metaphorical in the former but literal in the latter. 

Interval and ratio relations Interval and ratio relations apply more constraints of the spatial proximity metaphor than ordinal relations. In graphic displays of interval information, the distances between elements are meaningful that is, greater space corresponds to more on the relevant dimension. This is not the case for ordinal mappings. Ratio displays of information, are even more restrictive. For them, zero and the ratios of the distances are meaningful. 

These examples illustrate how the form of certain signs reflects a mapping between spatial structure and temporal structure. The mapping is based on the spatial metaphor in which future time is mapped to space ahead of a reference point, and the past is mapped to space behind this point. The temporal reference point can be represented either by the signer s body or by the non-dominant hand. 

Thus the mere presence of metaphorical language does not by itself tell us whether the space-time metaphor is a psychologically real conceptual mapping. For example, the temporal and spatial meanings could be represented as alternate meaning senses or even as separate homophonic lexical entries. The apparent systematicity would then be illusory, the result of post hoc regularization. 

How could one test for large-scale conceptual metaphoric systems Gentner and Boronat (1992, in preparation Gentner, 1992) devised a mixed mapping paradigm. This technique is based on the boggle reaction that occurs when one reads mixed metaphors, such as these examples from the New Yorker. 

To establish a global mapping, we asked subjects to read vignettes containing a series of conceptual metaphors from a single coherent domain. The passages were presented one sentence at a time subjects pressed a key to see the next sentence. The final test sentence was either consistent, in that the same metaphor was maintained throughout, e.g.,... 

The results showed an overall accuracy rate of 93.0%, with errors evenly distributed across the four conditions. In accord with the global mapping hypothesis, subjects in the Consistent conditions responded significantly faster (M = 4228 ms) than those in the Inconsistent conditions (M = 4799 ms). There was a marginal effect of Metaphor type responses for the time-moving metaphor (M = 4934 ms) tended to take longer than... 

The results are summarized in Table 8.3. As predicted by the global mapping hypothesis, people were faster to process Consistent (M = 4525.3 ms.) than Inconsistent (M = 4769.1) metaphors.1 As in the previous study, people were also significantly faster to process statements that used the... 

---