The Metaphorical New Synthesis: Toward an Eco-Evolutionary Theory of Metaphors. (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Domínguez, Martí
• Is Part Of: Metaphor and symbol. Volume 31:Number 3(2016)
• Page Start: 148
• Page End: 162
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: Metaphor -- Periodicals; 401.41
• DOI: 10.1080/10926488.2016.1187045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1092-6488

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Metaphors are a genuinely human construction. They are used to improve communication and they are a very powerful tool that might have an influence in human evolution. In this article I argue that metaphors, transformed in powerful memes, adapt to a new communicative niche and contribute to transform it. In order to prove this hypothesis, I study 319 cartoons published in the wake of the Germanwings air crash, where I inventory 144 metaphors. The study shows the conceptual metaphor evolution for a period of 2 weeks, and how the metaphors changed as a result of the variations in the communicative niche, becoming much more efficient communicatively.