Course code: ENG-3002

Metaphor and figurative language in English

Campus
Semester / Year Autumn 2010
Credits 10
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ENG-3002
Metaphor and figurative language in English
-
10
ects
The course is administrated by
Fakultet for humaniora, samfunnsvitenskap og lærerutdanning
Type of course
This course may be taken as an individual course by students who meet the admission requirements for a master´s degree in English linguistics/literature.
Course contents
This course focuses on the description and explanation of figurative language, particularly metaphor, in various types of discourse, addressing questions such as how metaphor is defined and how it can be identified and analyzed in linguistics. We will study different theoretical approaches to metaphor and figurative language, with particular reference to cognitive and functional frameworks. Finally the course will deal with the use of metaphor in political discourse.
Objective of the course

After completing the course, students should have acquired the knowledge and skills listed below.

Knowledge and understanding:

  • Students should be able to identify metaphors and other types of figurative language in text

Students should have a thorough knowledge of:

  • the most important linguistic theories of metaphor and figurative language
  • the use of and historical development of metaphor in English

Skills/proficiency:

Students should


  • be able to present and discuss the knowledge they have acquired in good oral and written English

Language of instruction and examination
Language of instruction and examination is English.
Teaching methods
The course is taught in blocks of one to two weeks per month distributed over the whole semester (4- 6 hours per week). The classes will consist of lectures, seminars/exercises, and discussions. Quality assurance: The subject undergoes a post-evaluation every third year.
Assessment methods

Coursework requirement:

Two papers (between 2000-2500 words)and an oral presentation

Assessment method:

Home exam 2 weeks. Performance in the course will be assessed with the grades A-F. Grades are A-E for passed and F for failed. A re-examination is offered in the event of an F-grade. The deadline to register for re-examination is January 15th for the autumn semester and August 15th for the spring semester.

Recommended reading/syllabus

Charteris-Black, Jonathan 2005. Politicians and rhetoric: the persuasive power of metaphor. Palgrave. (Ch 1, 3, 6-8)

Articles and chapters from:

El Refaie, Elisabeth (2001) Metaphors we discriminate by: Naturalized themes in Austrian newspaper articles about asylum seekers. Journal of Sociolinguistics 5/3. 352-371.

Gibbs, Raymond (1994) The poetics of mind : figurative thought, language, and understanding. Cambridge University Press.

Gibbs, Raymond (ed.) 2008 Handbook of metaphor and thought. Cambridge University Press.

Goatly, Andrew. 2007. Washing the brain. John Benjamins.

Lakoff, George 1993. The contemporary theory of metaphor. In A. Ortony (ed.) Metaphor and thought. Cambridge University Press. 203-251.

Lakoff, George 2008. The neural theory of metaphor. In R. Gibbs (ed.) Handbook of metaphor and thought. Cambridge University Press.

Semino, Elena. 2008. Metaphor in Discourse. Cambridge University Press.



Lectures Autumn 2010
First lecture: Tuesday August 31, room A 3018.
Lecture Prof. Toril Swan
Home exam Submission deadline: 1 December

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Responsible unit: Department of Language and Linguistics