Conceptual metaphor in syntax: sentence structure level

Abstract

Metaphor is universally recognized as a means of structuring language and thought and has long been the subject of linguistic research. However the manifestation of metaphor at the sentence structure level has yet to be studied in detail. This paper deals with the peculiarities of conceptual metaphor instantiation in English syntax and focuses on conceptual metaphor as a tool of conceptualizing real-world situations – both abstract and physical – and as a factor determining the syntactical structure of an utterance about a situation. It investigates the mechanism of metaphorical transfer manifested at the level of syntax, its grounds, limits and types, and shows the metaphorical potential of sentence patterns.