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Authorial intentions and metaphor comprehension.

R W Gibbs1, J M Kushner, W R Mills

  • 1Program in Experimental Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz 95064.

Journal of Psycholinguistic Research
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
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Authorial intentions significantly impact metaphor comprehension. Attributing metaphors to poets, rather than a computer, enhanced meaningfulness ratings, faster judgments, and richer interpretations, highlighting the role of implied agency.

Area of Science:

  • Psycholinguistics
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Literary Theory

Background:

  • Figurative language comprehension is a complex cognitive process.
  • The role of authorial intent in understanding non-literal language remains an area of exploration.
  • Previous research has not fully elucidated how perceived authorship influences metaphor interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of authorial intentions on metaphor comprehension.
  • To determine if attributing metaphors to intentional agents (poets) versus non-intentional sources (computer) affects interpretation.
  • To examine how perceived authorship impacts judgments of meaningfulness and the generation of interpretations.

Main Methods:

  • Three experiments were conducted using metaphoric, literal, and anomalous comparison statements.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Participants rated meaningfulness, made speeded meaningfulness judgments, or provided interpretations.
  • A key manipulation involved attributing the statements to either famous poets or a computer program.

    • Main Results:

    • Metaphoric and literal comparisons were rated as more meaningful when attributed to poets.
    • Participants judged metaphors faster in the poet condition but were slower to reject anomalous statements.
    • Attributing statements to poets led to the generation of more interpretations for comparisons.

    Conclusions:

    • Implied authorial intentions play a crucial role in facilitating metaphor comprehension.
    • The perceived intentionality of the author influences the processing and interpretation of figurative language.
    • Findings have implications for psycholinguistic models of figurative language and literary interpretation theories.