Researching And Applying Metaphor

Metaphor has become an important area of investigation where fundamental and applied research on language and its use meet. This article presents metaphor as a rapidly developing area of study for applied linguists who are adding an interventionist dimension to the more fundamental research on metaphor pursued in linguistics, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics. First a brief history of the study of metaphor since the 1980s will be offered, in order to relate the cognitive-linguistic view of metaphor to general interest in metaphor in linguistics, psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics. Then a few comments will be made about a number of important aspects of metaphor in applied linguistics, including metaphor identification and the distinction between deliberate versus non-deliberate metaphor. Finally an impression will be offered of the applied-linguistic study of metaphor in a few distinct domains of discourse, including politics and health. These topics are intended to demonstrate that metaphor forms an interesting opportunity for applied linguists to engage with complex aspects of meaning and use in a variety of ways in order to develop effective applied research.