Chapter 2. Metaphor in discourse

The lack of a reliable methodology for identifying metaphor in discourse prompted a group of metaphor researchers to create the so-called MIP (Metaphor Identification Procedure; Pragglejaz Group 2007), which aims at identifying metaphorically used words. In our research project at VU University Amsterdam, four analysts have applied the MIP to language data from four different registers in the BNC-Baby. Since the MIP only caters for indirect metaphor use, one important goal of this project was to determine how to annotate directly used words that express cross-domain mappings. This chapter presents examples from our analyses to illustrate some salient methodological issues concerning the application of the MIP to different manifestations of metaphor in natural discourse, suggesting possible additions to the MIP.