Nonhuman Metaphors: A Cognitive Stylistic Study of Constructed Metaphors in Science Fiction

Abstract

This thesis investigates the central notion of embodiment to the Cognitive Linguistics movement. It does so through the analysis of three Science Fiction narratives (Star Trek: The Next Generation, The 100, and Peter Watts' The Things) featuring constructed metaphors uttered by species of nonhuman and/or non-Earthly embodiment. The constructed metaphors are analyzed according to cognitive linguistic approaches to metaphor: Conceptual Metaphor Theory, Conceptual Blending Theory, and Primary Metaphor Theory. Through this analysis, it is investigated whether the constructed metaphors rely on the embodiment of their creator (the author) or their utterer (the character). Primary Metaphor Theory is herein used as a novel method to draw conclusions about the nature of the underlying notion of embodiment. Results show that, while the constructed metaphors may rely on nonhuman and/or non-Earthly embodiment on the surface, the underlying primary metaphors rely not on the embodiment of the alien utterer, but rather on that of the human creator.