A starting point: metaphor as a phenomenon of language in use

A general type of description of metaphor often seems to be the only level at which theorists and researchers of different persuasions can agree, with similar ‘definitions’ found in many key publications (Kittay, 1987; Black, 1979; Gibbs, 1994; Lakoff & Johnson, 1980). Once past this level of generality, disagreement develops in a mire of conglomerated detail, and intending researchers may find themselves reeling as they approach the published literature in order to select an appropriate theoretical and analytic framework for a study.

In this chapter, I attempt to impose some order on this confusion by addressing various aspects of the question of how to operationalise the concept of metaphor for research of an applied linguistic nature. As applied linguists, we are concerned with language use in real-life situations, particularly problematic ones. In general terms, the applied linguistic researcher is aiming to reveal and understand underlying processes of language learning or use, and perhaps to evaluate intervention in them.