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Metaphoric structuring: understanding time through spatial metaphors
1Department of Psychology, Stanford University, CA 94305-2130, USA. lera@psych.stanford.edu
Cognition
|May 18, 2000
Summary
Abstract concepts like time are structured by metaphors from concrete experiences, such as space. This study provides empirical evidence for metaphoric structuring in cognitive science.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
- Psychology
Background:
- Abstract concepts are often understood through concrete experiences.
- Theories suggest metaphorical mappings structure abstract domains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the abstract concept of time is structured by spatial metaphors.
- To provide empirical evidence for the Metaphoric Structuring theory.
Main Methods:
- Outlined relational similarities between space and time.
- Described three experiments to test explanations for these similarities.
Main Results:
- Confirmed shared conceptual structure between space and time.
- Demonstrated spatial information is as useful for thinking about time as temporal information.
- Found that frequent use of space-time mappings leads to storage within the time domain, reducing reliance on spatial schemas.
Conclusions:
- Abstract domains like time are shaped by metaphorical mappings from concrete domains like space.
- Empirical evidence supports the role of metaphoric structuring in cognitive processes.
- Spatial metaphors play a significant role in conceptualizing time.
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