American Journal Of Philological Sciences
8
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue06 2025
PAGE NO.
8-9
10.37547/ajps/Volume05Issue06-03
Theoretical Views on Cognitive Metaphor
Sotvoldiyeva Muattarxon Ikromjon qizi
PhD candidate at Fergana State University, Uzbekistan
Received:
10 April 2025;
Accepted:
06 May 2025;
Published:
08 June 2025
Abstract:
The topic of metaphor has long been a focal point for linguists and has been deeply studied by both
local and international scholars. Linguists worldwide have expressed their theoretical views and conducted
thorough analyses on the main concepts of cognitive metaphor theory, its significance in language and thought,
and its role in communication and cognition. This article analyzes the perspectives of the founders of cognitive
metaphor theory as well as those linguists who have studied and interpreted it.
Keywords:
Metaphor, cognitive metaphor theory, cognition, theory, concept, idea, perceive.
Introduction:
Metaphor has long been one of the
important directions of research in linguistics. Initially
considered a stylistic device, metaphor later came to be
interpreted as a significant cognitive phenomenon that
reveals complex relationships between language and
thought. Particularly in the second half of the 20th
century, the emergence of the theory of cognitive
metaphor opened the way to viewing metaphor not
merely as a stylistic tool but as one of the main
mechanisms of human cognition. One of the founders
of this theory, George Lakoff, along with his colleague
Mark Johnson, scientifically explained the role of
metaphor in human consciousness, perception, and
conceptual system. Metaphor has been studied as a
key concept in linguistics, philosophy, and literature
since ancient times. Aristotle defined metaphor as “the
art of describing one thing through another”
. Although
it was initially viewed as a stylistic tool, it was later
reinterpreted as a crucial model of thought.
While the traditional approach studied metaphor
mainly as a literary-linguistic device, modern
linguistics
—
especially cognitive linguistics
—
regards
metaphor as a concept closely connected to human
cognition. The founders of this approach, George Lakoff
and Mark Johnson, in their famous work Metaphors We
Live By, presented metaphor as a fundamental element
of the conceptual system. From the perspectives of
these linguists, metaphor enhances stylistic expression
and imagery In addition, many scholars have analyzed
it from a cognitive angle, arguing that metaphor exists
within the human thinking system and serves as a
foundation of thought. Through metaphor, people can
understand complex concepts more easily.
METHODOLOGY
In the second half of the 20th century, a cognitive
revolution occurred in Western linguistics. During this
period, the approach to language changed, and it
began to be viewed as a form of human thought.
According to representatives of cognitive linguistics,
language is not merely a means of communication but
an integral part of the system by which humans
perceive and comprehend the world. Against this
backdrop, the theory of cognitive metaphor was
developed, interpreting metaphor as a fundamental
tool of human thought. This approach sees metaphor
as the expression of deep conceptual connections that
emerge through linguistic units.
The most prominent representatives of the theory of
cognitive metaphor are American scholars George
Lakoff and Mark Johnson. In their 1980 book
Metaphors We Live By, they recognized metaphor as a
core model of human cognition According to them,
many everyday phrases, thoughts, and concepts are
metaphorically based. For example, expressions like
“life is a journey” demonstrate that metaphor exists
not only in language but also in thought. Lakoff and
Johnson call such metaphors “conceptual metaphors,”
and they argue that people use these metaphorical
models to understand and make sense of the world.
According to M. Black, “The role of language as a tool
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
9
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American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
of cognition is crucial in revealing the uniqueness of
metaphor. Modern metaphors create not only
similarities but also harmony and compat
ibility.” In
Black's view, language is not only a means of expressing
thought but plays an important role in the cognitive
process itself. Metaphor, in its early forms, combines
emotions and experiences. By doing so, it reveals the
ambiguity and richness of language, thereby expanding
the thinking process. Moreover, metaphor does not
emerge from mere similarities between phenomena;
instead, it creates harmony during the process of
understanding. Metaphors provide balance and
interconnection between events, fostering deeper
comprehension.
DISCUSSION AND RESULTS
The theory of cognitive metaphor has brought
revolutionary changes to linguistics, allowing metaphor
to be seen not only as a literary device but also as a vital
part of human cognition. Compared to traditional
approaches, the cognitive approach provides a broader
and deeper understanding of the linguistic and
cognitive functions of metaphor. According to this
theoretical framework, metaphor actively participates
in daily communication, thinking, and perception.
The conceptual metaphor model by Lakoff and Johnson
serves as a fundamental scientific basis for explaining
how metaphor shapes human thought. Moreover,
conceptual metaphors appear in similar forms across
different cultures and languages, reflecting the
universal aspects of human experience.
However, the theory has certain limitations. For
instance, not all metaphors can be classified into
conceptual categories, and metaphorical structures
may differ across cultures, leading to debates.
Furthermore, the practical application of cognitive
metaphor theory
—
especially in language teaching and
learning
—
still requires deeper investigation.
Cognitive metaphor theory views metaphor not just as
a literary tool but as a key mechanism for forming
thoughts and perceiving the world. Similarities and
differences in metaphorical structures across
languages and cultures help identify both universal and
localized features of human cognition.
CONCLUSION
This article has analyzed the main theoretical aspects of
the theory of cognitive metaphor. While metaphor was
traditionally considered merely a literary device, the
modern cognitive approach accepts it as a primary
model of human cognition. George Lakoff and Mark
Johnson’s Metaphors We Live By laid the foundation
for this line of research by uncovering the vital role of
metaphor in language, thinking, and perception
processes.
The conceptual metaphor model explains how
metaphor
functions
in
shaping
thought,
communication, and perception. At the same time,
cognitive metaphor is significant in studying the
interaction between language and culture.
Theoretical studies show that cognitive metaphor can
serve as an effective tool not only for linguistic analysis
but
also
in
language
teaching,
translation,
communication, and psychology. However, further
research is needed to apply cognitive metaphor theory
practically in these areas.
Thus, cognitive metaphor theory opens new directions
in linguistics and cognitive sciences, enabling a deeper
understanding of human thought and the functions of
language.
REFERENCES
Aristotle. Poetics. Translated by S. H. Butcher. Dover
Publications, 1997.
Black, Max. Models and Metaphors: Studies in
Language and Philosophy. Cornell University Press,
1962.
Kövecses, Zoltán. Metaphor: A Practical Introduction.
Oxford University Press, 2002.
Lakoff, George & Johnson, Mark. Metaphors We Live
By. University of Chicago Press, 1980.
Langacker, Ronald. Foundations of Cognitive Grammar.
Stanford University Press, 1987.
Evans, Vyvyan & Green, Melanie. Cognitive Linguistics:
An Introduction. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2006.
Lakoff, George & Johnson, Mark. Metaphors We Live
By. University of Chicago Press, 1980.
Ortony, Andrew. Metaphor and Thought. Cambridge
University Press, 1993.
