THE METAPHORICAL DIMENSION IN DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE

This study investigates the underlying dimensions of figurativeness and literalness in descriptive language. While theoretic models argue for a continuous relationship between figurative and literal language, empirical research tends to treat these categories as dichotomous. Multidimensional scaling...

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Veröffentlicht in:Human communication research 1976, Vol.2 (2), p.182-191
Hauptverfasser: JORDAN, WILLIAM J., McLAUGHUN, MARGARET L.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:This study investigates the underlying dimensions of figurativeness and literalness in descriptive language. While theoretic models argue for a continuous relationship between figurative and literal language, empirical research tends to treat these categories as dichotomous. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical clustering analyses were applied to data provided by a free sort task. Results suggest that the figurative/literal dimension of language is not dichotomous; rather, the dimension appears to be continuous as theoretic models suggest. Further, the literal/figurative dimension does not appear to be a salient dimension in terms of decoders' processes for handling a variety of descriptive terms.
ISSN:0360-3989
1468-2958
DOI:10.1111/j.1468-2958.1976.tb00710.x