Systematic Metaphor Analysis as a Method of Qualitative Research

Abstract

George Lakoff and Mark Johnsons theory of metaphor (1980, 1999) provides a basis for describing everyday cognitive structures using linguistic models and thus, making it possible to uncover both individual and collective patterns of thought and action. Lakoff and Johnson have not, however, developed a workable system for carrying out qualitative research. This paper outlines the fundamentals of this approach and proposes a procedure for the reconstruction of metaphorical concepts. As is normally the case in qualitative research, such guidelines can only ever represent the interplay between the ability of the researcher to understand the sense of things and the rules of the methodology. An overview of the typical interpretations that a metaphor analysis allows is also given.

Understanding the Language of the Occupy Movement

“…Not only did it present the movement as a WAR and a FORCE against government (SYSTEM, BANKERS, MAFIA), corporations, oppression, and inequality, but it was a strong structure (BUILDING) put in place by TRANSNATIONAL ARTISTS that formed a FAMILY/COMMUNITY that needed to be AWAKENED, FED, to be HEARD, SEEN, and FELT. The limitations of the CL approach lie in its macro-level examination and thus metaphor/metonymy analysis provides incomplete and indirect answers to questions asked about socioeconomic circumstances (Schmitt, 2005). It is also possible that phenomena not able to be recorded in metaphorical/metonymical language fall outside of the focus of the analysis (Schmitt, 2005).…”

“…The limitations of the CL approach lie in its macro-level examination and thus metaphor/metonymy analysis provides incomplete and indirect answers to questions asked about socioeconomic circumstances (Schmitt, 2005). It is also possible that phenomena not able to be recorded in metaphorical/metonymical language fall outside of the focus of the analysis (Schmitt, 2005). For this reason, triangulation with other forms of evaluation (such as CDA) is highly recommended.…”

“…CL and conceptual metaphor analysis are most familiar to the general academic public through the works of George Lakoff and Mark Johnson, and are hardly mentioned in the literature on qualitative research (Schmitt, 2005). From this frame of reference, metaphors are considered to be a conceptual mapping from one semantic source domain (the more concrete and clearly organized domain) to a different semantic target domain that is more abstract and more difficult to talk about (Kövecses, 2006).…”

“…When attempting to find metaphors in the data, Schmitt (2005) identifies several rules that aid in systematic analysis. According to Schmitt, a metaphor can be determined when • • A word or phrase, strictly-speaking, can be understood beyond the literal meaning in context of what is being said.…”

Exploration of the changes in the perceptions of medical students about cadaver dissections using metaphors

“…Therefore, metaphorical analysis can direct educational treatment according to different perceptions of cadaver dissection by providing individual or specific group thinking and behavioural patterns. 27 It can be an alternative way to explore the complex perceptions that medical students have about cadaver dissections with more depth than previous quantitative studies.…”