![]() ![]() Even what appear to be the most common of words are, in fact, metaphors. In fact, he says that metaphor is “an indispensable conceptual mechanism which allows us to think of abstract notions in terms of simpler concrete things” (Deutscher 142). ![]() In this chapter, Deutscher explains that metaphors are how we are able to comprehend abstract concepts. If something is clear, you can see through it, so if someone’s statement is clear, you can perceive its meaning. They are not asking if they have turned invisible the meaning of ‘clear’ has evolved. ![]() However, the literal definition of the word ‘clear’ is ‘transparent’, or ‘translucent’. If someone asks “Do I make myself clear?”, they are checking to see if you understood. This word can be used to describe ideas, or statements. ![]() By this definition, a metaphor is some word or phrase whose meaning has evolved to something other than its literal definition. Examining its etymology, we find that its root, the greek ‘meta-phora’ means to carry across, making itself a metaphor. We see this in many of our words today, and we are constantly creating new metaphors to suit our needs.ĭeutscher defines a metaphor as something which “transfer concepts from one linguistic domain to another” (Deutscher 117). According to Deutscher, this is how words for abstract concepts originated. Words change their meanings, sometimes multiple times. In Chapter Four of his book, The Unfolding of Language, Guy Deutscher discusses how a large portion of our modern language is built out of metaphors. ![]()
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