Metaphor in learner and expert argumentative writing: A comparative corpus-driven study

Metaphor in learner and expert argumentative writing: A comparative corpus-driven study

Metaphors, it is well acknowledged by now, are fundamental in thought and in language, since they reflect the way we understand and organize the world. Conceptual metaphors underlie linguistic metaphors, which are ubiquitous in language. However, speakers use them very often unconsciously and most metaphors in our everyday language go unnoticed. This volume focuses on the use of metaphor in reallanguage. Bearing very much in mind that a complete study of metaphor has to reflect its actual use by speakers rather than being based on introspection alone, and being aware of the danger of presenting decontextualized examples, Chapetón combines a cognitive and a corpus-based applied linguistic approach and analyses the metaphoric expressions of three different corpora of argumentative texts. Willing to frame her research in an applied linguistic context and driven by her pedagogical interest in the teaching of English, she compares the differences and similarities of metaphoric production in a learner corpus of Spanish EFL students, a native corpus of American university students and an expert corpus of American newspapers editorials. This book is an important contribution to the study of metaphor. It offers not only a deep analysis of the characteristics and complexities of metaphor in actual use, but also a model of research methodology. This publication will be of great interest to a wide readership including expert metaphor researchers, English Teachers, and postgraduate students.

CONTENTS
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1. Approaches to the Study of Metaphor
Introduction
Theoretical Approaches to Metaphor
The Applied Linguistics Trend: Discourse and Corpus
Approaches to Metaphor
Metaphor in Expert and Student Argumentative Writing
Animate Metaphor in Theory and Research
Summary
Chapter 2. A Corpus-driven Approach to Metaphor Analysis
Introduction
Rationale for the Selection of Argumentative Essays and Editorials
The Corpus Data
Procedures for Linguistic Metaphor Identification in Corpus Data
Metaphor Data Coding
Summary
Chapter 3. The Presence and Nature of Linguistic Metaphor
Introduction
Inter-Rater Analysis and Quantitative Results in the Three Sample Texts
The Nature ofLinguistic Metaphor in Students' and Experts' Writing
Linguistic Metaphor: Metaphorical Densities and Frequencies Summary
Chapter 4. Word Class and the Grammatical Forrn of Metaphor
Introduction
Non-Native Student Corpus (SPICLE)
Native Student Corpus (LOCNESS)
Experts' Corpus (EDI/EXP)
The Word Class of Metaphor in Comparison and Contrast
Summary
Chapter 5. The Presence and Nature of Animate Metaphor
Introduction
Animate Metaphor in Students' and Experts' Writing
Animation Metaphor: Vehicle Terms and Topics
Summary
Chapter 6. Personification in Learners' and Experts' Corpora
Introduction
Non-Native Student Corpus (SPICLE)
Native student corpus (LOCNESS)
Experts' Corpus (EDI/EXP)
The Use of Personification Metaphor in Comparison and Contrast
Summary
Chapter 7. The Complex Nature of Animate Metaphor
Introduction
The Intertwined Nature of Animate Metaphor The Textual Roles and Patterns of Animate Metaphor
Summary
Conclusions
Metaphor: A Multi-Faceted Phenomenon
Implications and Applications
Avenues for Future Research
Appendices
References
Subject index