Neurolinguistic aspects of metaphor theory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36505/ExLing-2008/02/0005/000064Keywords:
cognitive linguistics, conceptual metaphor, neural circuits, neural mappingsAbstract
The goal of this paper is to examine the neural aspect of metaphor. The neural theory of language stems from the cognitive linguistic research and is an effort to comprehend the way neural circuits affect and shape language and thought. Within this framework it is suggested that metaphor serves as the medium through which cultural, abstract and theoretical concepts are acquired. On the other hand, it is believed that conceptual metaphors are ensembles of neurons located in different parts of the brain and connected by larger neural groups.
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