Unlocking Metaphor : The Creative Power of Figurative Language

Written by a world-renowned scholar, this book provides a clear, comprehensive discussion of how we understand and use metaphor, focusing mainly on ordinary conversation. Using examples from everyday life and written in clear, simple language, it is ideal for students of Communication, Linguistics and Psychology or anyone interested in metaphor.

'The traffic was a nightmare today'; 'you're a star'; 'he's an early bird'; 'we need to get our ducks in a row'. Metaphors like these are so enmeshed within our language that we barely realise we are using them. This book, written by world-renowned expert, provides a clear, comprehensive discussion of how we understand and use metaphor, with a focus on ordinary conversation. It begins by defining metaphors, moving on to explore their communicative role in a range of settings across regular and professional life, and finishing with an overview of the main theoretical approaches to metaphor. Drawing on current research findings, each chapter concludes with a brief discussion of how the topics covered are useful in everyday communication. Ideas are explained in non-technical language, using examples from real-life conversation - making it ideal for students of Communication, Linguistics and Psychology, or anyone interested in the fascinating world of metaphor.