This essay was very interesting. It pointed out things that we say on a day to day basis, but we (or at least I) didn’t realize the double meaning behind the words. I guess on some level I knew that we used strategy type words for arguments, but I never realized how much it correlated with war, what does that say about our culture? Hmm… I have always heard “time is money” so I was surprised to see that in the essay. What else does that say about our culture? That we value you time and money on the same level? I wonder how other cultures or languages talk about money or time? I wish this article would have given more examples from other languages to show different conceptual metaphors. They do mention an example about dancing in arguments instead of war, but I think it would be super cool to see how other languages deal with something like talking about arguments. This article was interesting, but it actually raised more questions for me than it answered.
I guess, looking at it critically, we on some subconscious level know that we are using metaphors, but I never really noticed how many we use of how often we use them until reading this essay. Like with the "time is money" thing. Obviously we know that this is a metaphor, but I never thought of it going beyond that. With referring to spending and wasting time. I never would have thought about that being a metaphor, comparing time to money, but thinking about it now, it clearly is. I feel the same way about the argument being war. It seems odd to me, after the author pointing it out, that we consider an argument something you can lose, or that we do strategize how to win.
I agree with you, Tori, about wanting examples from other languages. I think it would be really nifty to learn how other languages and cultures do it, especially now that I am going to be hyper-aware of doing it in English.
I kind of loved this essay. It was one of my favorites so far.
This essay was definitely one of my favorites so far! I like how Lakoff and Johnson explain the concept of metaphors in language and thinking. One line that stood out to me (metaphor) early on in the piece was found on page 460: "We shall argue that, on the contrary, human thought processes are largely metaphorical." This argument is so important because it suggests the deep link between thought process and language. In class, we have talked how the two are closely related and become inseparable as language develops; as one evolves, so does the other.
Like others I enjoyed the specific examples of the general metaphor of time as money. However, in thinking about the way in which westernized culture verbalizes money as a commodity, I only skimmed the surface. After reading the examples given my Lakoff and Johnson, my eyes were opened a little wider. I hadn't thought so deep as "paying your debt to society by 'serving time,'" or even the fact that many American employees get paid by the hour. Their work is measured by the amount of time they put into a job, not necessarily on the quality of the work as a whole.
As I read on in the essay, I learned more and more. I really enjoyed the segment entitled "Metaphorical Systematicity: Highlighting and Hiding" because this section addressed the strengths and weaknesses of relying heavily on metaphors in thinking about a particular subject. I think Lakoff and Johnson did a wonderful job of explaining all of their concepts. There were times when I wasn't sure where they were heading, but they always brought the examples back to their previously stated point. The use of specific examples throughout was very helpful and even entertaining at times. I giggled to myself when I read the part about the "apple-juice seat." You can really tell that Lakoff and Johnson enjoyed formulating this argument and backing it up with vocabulary from their everyday lives.
This article, as many others do, has brought some ideas to my attention that seemed to only float in the back of my mind before completing the reading. I understand metaphors and their uses, but I've never really contemplated the idea that they are integral in our daily lives. Their idea that metaphorical concepts can shape thought and action was fascinating! I think particularly of the example of argument being war, and all of the ideas that it entailed. I didn't realize that a metaphorical concept can be an idea by which i frame my outlook on life!
I don't know that this does much to affect my emotions, but it will help me to think more about how I think and say things. I've become much more interested in how the brain works, and how my ideas are formed based on different influences, so if anything, this essay made me want to learn more. I feel like Lakoff and Johnson presented some very valuable points, and I hope to spend more time digging into this essay and others on the same topic.
So you've read "Metaphors We Live By" by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson (that's Johnson on the left and Lakoff on the right).
This essay was very interesting. It pointed out things that we say on a day to day basis, but we (or at least I) didn’t realize the double meaning behind the words. I guess on some level I knew that we used strategy type words for arguments, but I never realized how much it correlated with war, what does that say about our culture? Hmm…
ReplyDeleteI have always heard “time is money” so I was surprised to see that in the essay. What else does that say about our culture? That we value you time and money on the same level? I wonder how other cultures or languages talk about money or time?
I wish this article would have given more examples from other languages to show different conceptual metaphors. They do mention an example about dancing in arguments instead of war, but I think it would be super cool to see how other languages deal with something like talking about arguments.
This article was interesting, but it actually raised more questions for me than it answered.
-Tori
I guess, looking at it critically, we on some subconscious level know that we are using metaphors, but I never really noticed how many we use of how often we use them until reading this essay. Like with the "time is money" thing. Obviously we know that this is a metaphor, but I never thought of it going beyond that. With referring to spending and wasting time. I never would have thought about that being a metaphor, comparing time to money, but thinking about it now, it clearly is. I feel the same way about the argument being war. It seems odd to me, after the author pointing it out, that we consider an argument something you can lose, or that we do strategize how to win.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Tori, about wanting examples from other languages. I think it would be really nifty to learn how other languages and cultures do it, especially now that I am going to be hyper-aware of doing it in English.
I kind of loved this essay. It was one of my favorites so far.
This essay was definitely one of my favorites so far! I like how Lakoff and Johnson explain the concept of metaphors in language and thinking. One line that stood out to me (metaphor) early on in the piece was found on page 460: "We shall argue that, on the contrary, human thought processes are largely metaphorical." This argument is so important because it suggests the deep link between thought process and language. In class, we have talked how the two are closely related and become inseparable as language develops; as one evolves, so does the other.
ReplyDeleteLike others I enjoyed the specific examples of the general metaphor of time as money. However, in thinking about the way in which westernized culture verbalizes money as a commodity, I only skimmed the surface. After reading the examples given my Lakoff and Johnson, my eyes were opened a little wider. I hadn't thought so deep as "paying your debt to society by 'serving time,'" or even the fact that many American employees get paid by the hour. Their work is measured by the amount of time they put into a job, not necessarily on the quality of the work as a whole.
As I read on in the essay, I learned more and more. I really enjoyed the segment entitled "Metaphorical Systematicity: Highlighting and Hiding" because this section addressed the strengths and weaknesses of relying heavily on metaphors in thinking about a particular subject. I think Lakoff and Johnson did a wonderful job of explaining all of their concepts. There were times when I wasn't sure where they were heading, but they always brought the examples back to their previously stated point. The use of specific examples throughout was very helpful and even entertaining at times. I giggled to myself when I read the part about the "apple-juice seat." You can really tell that Lakoff and Johnson enjoyed formulating this argument and backing it up with vocabulary from their everyday lives.
-Emily
This article, as many others do, has brought some ideas to my attention that seemed to only float in the back of my mind before completing the reading. I understand metaphors and their uses, but I've never really contemplated the idea that they are integral in our daily lives. Their idea that metaphorical concepts can shape thought and action was fascinating! I think particularly of the example of argument being war, and all of the ideas that it entailed. I didn't realize that a metaphorical concept can be an idea by which i frame my outlook on life!
ReplyDeleteI don't know that this does much to affect my emotions, but it will help me to think more about how I think and say things. I've become much more interested in how the brain works, and how my ideas are formed based on different influences, so if anything, this essay made me want to learn more. I feel like Lakoff and Johnson presented some very valuable points, and I hope to spend more time digging into this essay and others on the same topic.