Pragmatics, Metaphor Studies and the Challenge of Mental Imagery

Abstract

This chapter explores the complicated relationship between mental imagery and metaphors, examining their historical connection and the claim that imagery is a characteristic feature of metaphors. In examining the discourse of metaphor over the past century, the focus is on the question of whether mental imagery, or “non-propositional entities” are necessary for understanding metaphors. The chapter deals with the debate on metaphorical meaning and distinguishes between Proposition theories and Image theories of metaphor, which respectively deal with metaphor on the linguistic-propositional and the non-propositional level and navigate between the different hypotheses on this topic of investigation.