Category: Blog 1

  • Pakistani Conceptual Metaphors

    Conceptual metaphors surface all the time in our daily conversations, yet we are not cognizant of the fact that we are using one concept to relate and explain it to another concept. As a Pakistani-America, I use conceptual metaphors that are both unique to American and Pakistani culture, so I use a wide range of…

  • Metaphors used in the English language

    There is plenty of fish in the sea- This is a term commonly used when telling someone that there is many other options (people) available, so don’t stress about any one individual. America is the land of opportunity and this metaphor reveals that our society values opportunity and having/exploring plenty of options. Break a leg-…

  • Conceptual Metaphor in Chinese

    Find three examples of conceptual metaphors in your first language.  In what ways do they reveal something about the societal values of your culture? 1. “Hit basketball”. When we go to play badminton or basketball or any kinds of ball, we will say go to “Do you want to go hit (basket)ball?” “Hit” is a…

  • Society needs flu medicine

    From taking a glance at the English language it is surprising to discover exactly how many of the phrases we use to communicate are conceptual metaphors. Understanding things in the context of others is nothing new, but discovering exactly how often we use conceptual metaphors (by imagining the English language without them) is new to…

  • Conceptual Metaphors

    For North Americans whose first language is English, we utilize conceptual metaphors in our everyday speech in order to relate ideas and events. A lot of times we speak as if our Behavior is a Play. For example, when someone is behaving childishly, we normally tell them to, Act their own age. This may represent in…

  • The Backbone of Language: Conceptual Metaphors

    As I began to ponder on the idea of conceptual metaphors in English, I followed the path of poetry, around the gate of knowledge, to the intersection of thought. 1. “For Love is immortality.” My favorite poet, Emily Dickinson, has a number of poems concerning love. In one of her brilliant poems Unable Are The Loved To…

  • Colorful Metaphors

    Conceptual metaphors are interesting because they reflect the human thought processes. Although it may seem obvious, people do not think serially; rather, humans think by making connections that expand across multiple thought domains.  They have an innate tendency to associate commonalities across distinct disciplines of ideas. Language reflects the associative human thought process. What is interesting…

  • A Metaphor with Long History: Chinese Metaphor

    Almost all Chinese metaphor use can reveal the long history of China. For example, This man is an iron rooster means that this man is extremely mean, because other people even can’t get a feather from him. In Chinese culture, we usually consider feather or hair as the cheapest thing, because we have countless of…

  • Conceptual Metaphor in Daily Chinese

    I didn’t realize the prevalence of metaphor usage in daily life until once I read some excerpts from professor Lakeoff, who devoted himself to linguistic research, especially in conceptual metaphor. I felt so interested in this amazing field and I suddenly realized that conceptual metaphor does not only apply to English world, but it also…

  • An Insight Into Conceptual Metaphor

      A peak into common conceptual metaphor that every Chinese knows! 不要在一棵树上吊死  Don’t hang on one tree. The traditional Chinese saying “Don’t hang one one tree” is a common metaphor that describes the human nature of stubbornness and the act of limiting one-self. Therefore, the man hangs him-self, unwilling to change and disregards the landscape around him. It…