Blog 3: Summaries and Return of the Metaphor

In James Geary’s TED Talk, Metaphorically Speaking, he explains how the metaphor works. He gives a simple understanding of metaphors, X=Y, before going into a multitude of examples. These examples come with explanations and some audience participation. He leaves everything rather open ended ending with “metaphor keeps the mind shaking, rattling and rolling.”

In See through words, Michael Erard writes about the designing of metaphors tied into how they work. He calls the making of metaphors the creation of “psuedo-mistakes.” These pseudo-mistakes sometimes need to be explained so the right meaning is translated properly. Erard makes it quite clear that a misunderstood metaphor is no good and can lead to bad implications.

In The Trouble With Medicine’s Metaphors, Dhruv Khullar discusses militaristic metaphors within the medical field. He writes about these metaphors can sometimes of adverse effects on a patient. He gives examples of these adverse effects happening, both in medical and non medical setting. He does mention that these types of metaphors can work, and that it is  up to the patient to look at their ailments in their own way.

Metaphors, like language, is tool to help other people understand an idea or ideas. Therefor, metaphors in relation to how we perceive our bodies and health is similar to language itself. All language can change our views of ourselves. However, language as whole is more direct. If someone is trying to make you feel bad, they may something to the effect of “you suck and nobody likes you.” That may hurt some feelings, but sticks and stones and all that. But what if language was a little more covert. It would seem there is quite a bit of evidence to support that there are some unwanted psychological effects with metaphors. This can affect anyone without realising it. Even though metaphors are another tool for us to better communicate ideas with each other, these adverse effects can prove rather difficult.

Quotes

“Metaphorical thinking is essential to how we understand ourselves and others, how we communicate, learn, discover and invent” -James Geary, Metaphorically Speaking

“But whenever we give a thing a name that belongs to something else, we give it a whole network of analogies too.” -James Geary, Metaphorically Speaking

“Once we loose a metaphor into the world, it will be blocked by other ways of thinking that change its meaning or disrupt its interpretation.” -Michael Erard, See through words

“Patients who view their disease as an ‘enemy’ tend to have higher levels of depression and anxiety, and poorer quality of life than those who ascribe a more positive meaning.” – Dhruv Khullar, The Trouble With Medicine’s Metaphors

“Whether she came to see her illness as a battle, journey, marathon, rollercoaster, chess match-or none of the above. But I do know it wasn’t my decision to make.” – Dhruv Khullar, The Trouble With Medicine’s Metaphors