The role of comprehension in metaphor processing

Psycholinguistic theories of metaphor comprehension are generally described in terms of one of three different sets of principles: feature matching theories which view metaphor as based on resolution of anomaly; comparison theories which view metaphor as based on computation of analogy; and interaction theories which view metaphor as based on interaction to create new meaning. These sets of principles share underlying variables that are manifested in traditional models such as semantic feature and semantic network theories. This thesis examines the comprehension variables of metaphor and the differing role these variables play in each theory. This thesis repudiates semantic feature and semantic network theories of met­aphor comprehension. This repudiation is based on problems attributed to selec­tional restrictions and appropriate activation of relevant meaning. Psycholinguistic theories of metaphor comprehension entail certain processing models: those based on serial processing and those based on contextual processing. Refutation of serial processing (see, for example, Gildea & Glucksberg, 1983), that which implies a detailed distinction between literal and nonliteral language, suggests that literal and nonliteral language can be accounted for in one general language com­prehension model. In place of these previous theories, this thesis posits a model of metaphor comprehension based on contextual and intentional interaction which emphasizes the capabilities of listeners. Listeners construct meaning from the information that is available to them in the context of the utterance via linguistic and extralinguistic cues. Thus, this model can accommodate indirect speech acts, such as metaphors, as well as conventional language use. Explicit violations of the given- new contract and violations of Gricean maxims combine to create implicatures (either as a contextual setting or as an implicit setting) that can be viewed as a metaphoric template for comprehension. Overall, this thesis advocates a shift from a micro view to a more macro, all encompassing, view, a view which has import in the notion that metaphor is a via­ble and functional language act, the comprehension of which can be found in models for general language comprehension.

Author dc:creator

• Giles, Andrea Rosemary

Statement dc:rights

• Available to the World Wide Web

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1828/17892

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/17892