Cover not available

Article published In: Review of Cognitive Linguistics
Vol. 18:2 (2020) ► pp.372–396

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
authorization required

A multimodal cognitive analysis of visual metonymies in picture books featuring same-sex-parent families

 | University of Castilla-La Mancha
 | University of Castilla-La Mancha
Published online: 4 December 2020
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/rcl.00064.moy
Abstract
Verbal metaphor and also metonymy have been theorized from a conceptual perspective since Lakoff and Johnson published Metaphors we live by in the 1980s. However, the final years of the twentieth century saw a new approach into non-verbal monomodal or multimodal tropes (Forceville, Ch., & Urios-Aparisi, E. (Eds.) (2009). Multimodal metaphor. Berlin & New York: Mouton de Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar). In an attempt to expand upon the theorization and communicative functions of visual metonymies, this study aims to explore the meaning potential of metonymic representations of characters in a sample of six picture books which portray same-sex-parent families. A multimodal cognitive approach has been adopted to find out whether, and if so how, metonymic representations of characters contribute to the positive portrayal and acceptance of same-sex-parent families in children’s picture books. The results reveal that monomodal visual metonymies are essentially used to introduce new characters in the story and highlight important aspects of the plot which boost the acceptance of non-traditional families.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Literature review: A multimodal cognitive approach to metonymy
  • 3.The analysis of metonymic representations
    • 3.1Sample texts
    • 3.2Methodology
    • 3.3Metonymic manifestations in the picture books featuring two-dad families
    • 3.4Metonymies in picture books portraying female same-sex families
  • 4.Discussion
  • 5.Final remarks
  • Note
  • References
  • Picture books
References (39)
References
Barcelona, A. (2002). Clarifying and applying the notions of metaphor and metonymy within Cognitive Linguistics: An update. In R. Dirven & R. Pörings (Eds.), Metaphor and metonymy in comparison and contrast (pp. 202–277). Berlin & New York: Mouton de Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cerrillo, P., & Yubero, S. (2007). Qué leer y en qué momento ‘What to read and when’. In P. Cerrillo & S. Yubero (Eds.), La formación de mediadores para la promoción de la lectura. Segunda Edición, ‘Training specialists in the promotion of reading’ (pp. 285–293). Cuenca: Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Evans, J. (Ed.) (2015). Challenging and controversial picture books. Creative and critical responses to visual texts. London & New York: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dziallas, K. (2019). The head and sexualized body parts as fruit and vegetables. Metaphor and the Social World, 921, 199–220. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Forceville, Ch. (1996). Pictorial metaphors in advertising. London & New York: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2009). Metonymy in visual and audiovisual discourse. In E. Ventola & A. J. Moya-Guijarro (Eds.), The world told and the world shown: Multisemiotic issues (pp. 57–74). Basingstoke & New York: Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2014). Relevance Theory as model for analyzing visual and multimodal vommunication. In D. Machin (Ed.), Visual Communication (pp. 51–70). Berlin & New York: Mouton De Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2019). Developments in multimodal metaphor studies: A response to Górska, Coëgnarts, Porto and Romano and Muelas-Gil. In I. Navarro & I. Ferrando (Eds.), Current approaches to metaphor analysis in discourse (pp. 367–378). Berlin & New York: Mouton De Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Forceville, Ch., & Urios-Aparisi, E. (Eds.) (2009). Multimodal metaphor. Berlin & New York: Mouton de Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hamilton, M., Anderson, D., Broaddus, M., & Young, K. (2006). Gender stereotyping and under-representation of female characters in 200 popular children’s picture books: A twenty-first century update. Sex Roles, 551, 757–65. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hidalgo-Downing, L., & Kraljevic-Mujic, B. (2011). Multimodal metonymy and metaphor as complex discourse resources for creativity in ICT advertising discourse. Review of Cognitive Linguistics, 9(1), 153–178. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lakoff, G. (1987). Women, fire, and dangerous things: What categories reveal about the mind. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. Chicago: University Chicago Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Littlemore, J. (2015). Metonymy: hidden shortcuts in language, thought and communication. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
McCabe, J., Fairchild, E., Grauerholz, L., Pescosolido, B., & Tope, D. (2011). Gender in twentieth-century children’s books: Patterns of disparity in titles and central characters. Gender & Society, 25(2), 197–226. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Moya-Guijarro, A. J. (2013). Visual metonymy in children’s picture books. Review of Cognitive Linguistics, 11(2), 336–352. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2014). A multimodal analysis of picture books for children: A systemic functional approach. London: Equinox.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2019). Textual functions of metonymies in Anthony Browne’s picture books: A multimodal approach. Text & Talk, 39(3), 389–413. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nodelman, P. (1988). Words about pictures: The narrative art of children’s picture books. Athens, GA: University of Georgia.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Painter, C., Martin, J., & Unsworth, L. (2013). Reading visual narratives: Image analysis of children’s picture books. London: Equinox.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Pinar, M. J. (Ed.). (2013). Special Issue: Multimodality and Cognitive Linguistics. Review of Cognitive Linguistics, 11(2). Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(Ed.). (2015). Multimodality and Cognitive Linguistics. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rowell, E. (2007). Missing! Picture books reflecting gay and lesbian families. Make the curriculum inclusive for all children. Young Children, 62(3),24–30.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ruiz de Mendoza, F. J. (2000). The role of mapping and domains in understanding metonymy. In A. Barcelona (Ed.), Metaphor and metonymy at the crossroads: A cognitive perspective (pp.109–132). Berlin & New York: Mouton de Gruyter.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ruiz de Mendoza, F. J., & Diez, I. O. (2002). Patterns of conceptual interaction. In R. Dirven & R. Pörings (Eds.), Metaphor and metonymy in comparison and contrast (pp. 489–532). Berlin & New York: Mouton de Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Pérez-Sobrino, P. (2017). Multimodal metaphor and metonymy in advertising. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Radden, G., & Kövecses, Z. (1999). Towards a theory of metonymy. In K. Panther and G. Radden (Eds.), Metonymy in language and thought (pp. 17–59). Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sperber, D., & Wilson, D. (1985). Relevance: Communication and cognition. Second Edition. Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sunderland, J. (2012). Language, gender and children’s fiction. London: Continuum.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sunderland, J., & McGlashan, M. (2012). Stories featuring two-mum and two-dad families. In J. Sunderland (Ed.), Language, gender and children’s fiction (pp. 142–172). London: Continuum.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Villacañas, B., & White, M. (2013). Pictorial metonymy as creativity source in Purificación García advertising campaigns. In L. Hidalgo & B. Kraljevic (Eds.), Metaphorical creativity across modes: Special issue of Metaphor and the Social World, 3(2),220–239. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Yu, N. (2009). Nonverbal and multimodal manifestations of metaphors and metonymies: A case study. In C. Forceville & E. Urios-Aparisi (Eds.), Multimodal metaphor (pp. 119–143). Berlin & New York: Mouton de Gruyter.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Yus, F. (2009). Visual metaphor versus verbal metaphor: a unified account. In C. Forceville & E. Urios-Aparisi (Eds.), Multimodal metaphor, (pp.47–172). Berlin & New York: Mouton de Gruyter.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Picture books
Bryan, J., & Hosler, D. (2006). The different dragon. USA: Two Lives Publishing.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Clay, G. A., & Krebs, L. (2008). Why don’t I have a daddy? Bloomington: Author House.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
De Haan, L., & Nijland, S. (2004). King and king and family. Berkeley: Tricycle Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Newman, L., & Dutton, M. (2011). Donovan’s big day. Berkeley: Tricycle Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Oelschlager, V., Backwood, K., & Blanc, M. (2010). A tale of two daddies. China: Vanita Books.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Richardson, J., Parnell, P., & Cole, H. (2005). And Tango makes three. New York & London: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (5)

Cited by five other publications

Hidalgo-Downing, Laura
2025. Creative visual and multimodal metonymy in non-commercial advertisements on substance use. Metaphor and the Social World 15:2 ► pp. 288 ff. DOI logo
Jensen, Thomas Wiben
2025. Moral metaphor, metonymic causation. Metaphor and the Social World 15:2 ► pp. 242 ff. DOI logo
Moya-Guijarro, Arsenio Jesús
2024. A multimodal analysis of character-character interaction in LGTB picture books and its educational implications. Linguistics and Education 82 ► pp. 101312 ff. DOI logo
Yuan, Guorong & Yi Sun
2023. A bibliometric study of metaphor research and its implications (2010–2020). Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies 41:3 ► pp. 227 ff. DOI logo
Lirola, María Martínez
2022. Exploring compositional meanings in the picturebook with a two-father family Me, Daddy & Dad (2017). DELTA: Documentação de Estudos em Lingüística Teórica e Aplicada 38:2 DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 30 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue