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THE METAPHORICAL DIMENSION IN DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE

William J. Jordan, MARGARET L. McLAUGHUN

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Abstract

This study investigates the underlying dimensions of figurativeness and literalness in descriptive language. While theoretic models argue for a continuous relationship between figurative and literal language, empirical research tends to treat these categories as dichotomous. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical clustering analyses were applied to data provided by a free sort task. Results suggest that the figurative/literal dimension of language is not dichotomous; rather, the dimension appears to be continuous as theoretic models suggest. Further, the literal/figurative dimension does not appear to be a salient dimension in terms of decoders’ processes for handling a variety of descriptive terms.

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What this paper is about

This study investigates the underlying dimensions of figurativeness and literalness in descriptive language. While theoretic models argue for a continuous relationship between figurative and literal language, empirical research tends to treat these categories as dichotomous. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical clustering analyses were applied to data provided by a free sort task. Results suggest that the figurative/literal dimension of language is not dichotomous; rather, the dimension appears to be continuous as theoretic models suggest. Further, the literal/figurative dimension does not appear to be a salient dimension in terms of decoders’ processes for handling a variety of descriptive terms.

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OpenAlex reports 5 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available abstract

This study investigates the underlying dimensions of figurativeness and literalness in descriptive language. While theoretic models argue for a continuous relationship between figurative and literal language, empirical research tends to treat these categories as dichotomous. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical clustering analyses were applied to data provided by a free sort task. Results suggest that the figurative/literal dimension of language is not dichotomous; rather, the dimension appears to be continuous as theoretic models suggest. Further, the literal/figurative dimension does not appear to be a salient dimension in terms of decoders’ processes for handling a variety of descriptive terms.

Key concepts: Literal and figurative language, Dimension (graph theory), Literal (mathematical logic), Salient, Psychology, Linguistics, Variety (cybernetics), Multidimensional scaling

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