METAPHORIZED MOTION IN ENGLISH
Jian-Shiung Shie
Physical motion is frequently metaphorized to express abstract concepts or states of affairs. This article aims to explore the phenomena of metaphorized motion in English. Example sentences drawn from English dictionaries are furnished to attest and examine the workings of metaphorized motion in various non-physical fields. One interesting finding is that two contrasting metaphorical vehicles－namely the moving entity and the stationary bounded space－apply to a variety of non-spatial fields. The two recurring contradictory vehicles suggest that there are limits to the systematicity and coherence of conventional metaphors of motion in English.
