THE METAPHORICAL DIMENSION IN DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE

Abstract

This study investigates the underlying dimensions of figurativeness and literalness in descriptive language. While theoretic models argue for a continuous relationship between figurative and literal language, empirical research tends to treat these categories as dichotomous. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical clustering analyses were applied to data provided by a free sort task. Results suggest that the figurative/literal dimension of language is not dichotomous; rather, the dimension appears to be continuous as theoretic models suggest. Further, the literal/figurative dimension does not appear to be a salient dimension in terms of decoders’ processes for handling a variety of descriptive terms.