THEORIES OF METAPHOR

Abstract

In the article the analysis of the theories of metaphor is conducted and the role of metaphor in the language and in different cognition processes is characterized. The author describes the various interpretations of this complex and multifaceted phenomenon; the special attention is paid to the modern theory of conceptual metaphor and its difference from the traditional theories, which is the fact that metaphor is not merely a function of
language but, and what is more important, of thought. The central point of the conceptual metaphor theory is the idea that metaphorical thinking is one of the most significant instruments of human cognition. The core of this theory is the idea that one phenomenon (usually more abstract) can be understood in terms of another (usually more concrete). This is especially important for the conceptualization of feelings, sensations and emotions, among which is pain. The modern metaphor approaches that interact and mutually complement each other are characterized: the classical theory of conceptual metaphor, the theory of conceptual integration, the theory of primary and complex metaphors, the coherent model of metaphor, the model of conceptual projection, the connective theory of metaphorical interpretation, the descriptive theory of metaphor and the theory of metaphorical modeling.