Contextual Adaptability on the Working Mechanism of Metaphor

Linguistic Adaptation Theory holds that the use of language should adapt the context,which enables people to choose linguistic expression to meet their communication purpose.This paper suggests a contextual adaptation of metaphor on the basis of the Adaptation Theory by Verschueren,proposing that metaphor is actually the outcome of linguistic choice which is inter-adaptable with language user’s mental world,social world and physical world.It complements traditional theories in compensating a fuller and more satisfactory interpretation of metaphor working mechanism as well as provides a new perspective to the explanation of metaphor.