George Lakoff

George P. Lakoff , born the May 24th 1941, is professor of cognitive Linguistique with the the University of California (Berkeley), where he teaches since 1972. Although part of its research relates to traditional linguistic questions, such as the conditions determining the grammatical viability of a particular linguistic construction, it is especially known for its theses on the conceptual Métaphore as being in the middle of the human thought, the political behavior and the company. It is particularly famous for its theory of the incarnated cognition , which it developed in relation to the Mathématiques. The last years, it applied its work to the field of the Politique, that it explored in its works. He is the founder of Rockridge Institute, an group of expert ( think tank ) progressivist.

Conceptual metaphors

In our Occidental culture, the metaphors are seen like processes concerned with poetic imagination or like relating to only the words rather than the thought or the action. Lakoff shows in " Metaphors in the life quotidienne" that the metaphors are present in our life of the every day and that they are at the base of the direction given to our concepts.

We are not aware of our conceptual system and an attentive observation of our language makes it possible to see that the metaphors structure our concepts.

Thus in the metaphor " The DISCUSSION It IS GUERRE" who is reflected in multiple expressions (its point of view is indefensible, are defended, its criticisms go right to the goal.) we do not make that of speaking about the discussion in warlike term, it is all our manner of apprehending the discussion which is influenced and has a notable impact on our acts.

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