Semantics of metaphorical statements: paradigm of metaphors in the contemporary analytical philosophy
The article is devoted to the study of the problems of semantics of the metaphorical statements in the contemporary analytical philosophy. Analytical theories are considered within two paradigms -binary and unary. Theorists of a binary paradigm make the semantic analysis of metaphorical statements, that is «...sees metaphor as a form of communication alongside ordinary communication; it conveys truths or falsehoods about the world much as plainer language does, though the message may be considered more exotic, profound, or cunningly garbed." [5, p. 174] . These theories lead to a binary model of semantics of metaphorical statements, which consists of two meanings: literal and not literal: M (+L (R) -L), where: M - metaphorical statement, +L - literal meaning, -L - nonliteral meaning, R -relations between literal and non-literal meanings. There are such theories , for example: 1. The theories of double reference (Goodman, Ricoeur) - («+L» / «-L») and ( [«+L»] «-L»). Within this theories «-L» is a new (metaphorical) reference 2. The theories of semantic interaction (Black) - ( («+L» (a, b)) ^ «-L» (c)), where «-L» (c) - the new (non-literal) sense 3. The theories of logical opposition (Beardsley) - («+L» (a,b) > «-L» (a, b)), where «+L» (a,b) -"logical opposition between the central meaning and that of other terms, there occurs that shift from central meaning to marginal meaning («-L» (a, b) - italics - ours) which shows the word is to be taken in a metaphorical way" [10. P. 208]. Contrariwise unary theories are based on unary model of semantics of metaphorical statements (as Davidson claimed "that metaphors mean what the words, in their most literal interpretation, mean, and nothing more" [5 173]): M (+L)*, where "+L" - literal meaning, * - non-semantic sign.. Non-semantic sign is main object of research in such theories. For example: 1) unusual seeing of objects (Davidson) 2) speaker's utterance meaning (Searle) 3) invitation to metaphorical transaction (Cohen), when "the speaker issues a kind of concealed invitation...", "the hearer expends a special effort to accept the invitation" and "this transaction constitutes the acknowledgment of a community" [7. P. 8]. Such theories are theories of an unary paradigm.
Keywords
Davidson, non-semantic sign, literal and not literal meanings, models of semantics of metaphorical statements, paradigms, the problems of semantics of the metaphorical statements in the contemporary analytical philosophy, унарная парадигма, бинарная парадигма, модель семантики метафорического высказывания, концептуальная установка, вопрос о семантике метафорAuthors
Name | Organization | |
Makhaev Mair R. | Tomsk State University | super-mahaev@yandex.ru |
References

Semantics of metaphorical statements: paradigm of metaphors in the contemporary analytical philosophy | Tomsk State University Journal of Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science. 2016. № 2(34).