What is a conventional metaphor?

Definition
	A conventional metaphor is a metaphor that is commonly used in everyday language in a culture to give structure to some portion of that culture’s conceptual system.

Examples (English)

The understanding of time as a resource

Example:
Time is running out.
The understanding of life as a journey

Example:
It’s time to get on with your life.

See also:

Conventional metaphors in English for many more examples.

Kinds
	Here are some kinds of conventional metaphors:
	What is an ontological metaphor? What is an orientational metaphor? What is a structural metaphor?

Generic
	A conventional metaphor is a kind of
	What is a metaphor?

Source
	Lakoff, G. and Johnson 1980 66, 139

Context for this page:

Concept module: conventional metaphor
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): C
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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