Sp410/510: Metaphor and Meaning
NH 42 Thursday 4:00
Dr. David Ritchie
Office: NH 41
Phone: 503-725-3550
Email: cgrd@pdx.edu
web page: http://www.pdx.edu/user/~cgrd/
This class is intended for advanced undergraduates and graduate students with an interest in language and meaning. No prior knowledge of the metaphor literature is assumed.
Readings:
Required: Lakoff, G., and Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Please read pp. 1-125 during the first three weeks. Pp. 126-138 is primarily concerned with language theory. The remainder of the book sets forth the implications of CMT for how we understand such concepts of knowledge and meaning - it is required for graduate students but optional for undergrads.
Recommended (but not required):
Lakoff, G. (1996). Moral politics: What conservatives know that liberals don't. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Especially Chs. 1-6, pp. 3-142.
Ortony, A. (Ed., 1993). Metaphor and thought (2nd ed). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. Especially chapters by Reddy & Schoen.Browse through recent issues of Metaphor and Symbol in the library (basement).
You will find my own relevant articles on my personal web page.
The class will consist of a series of ten lectures. The first few topics will provide a basic understanding of how metaphors are used and understood. The following lectures will focus on particular metaphors. There will also be a discussion "bulletin board" available on WebCT to supplement class discussion.
Grades: Grades will be based on a term paper and a final exam. The final exam may be essay, short answer, or other format, and will cover material from the assigned reading as well as all lectures.
Term Paper: There will be one written assignment, a paper on a group of metaphors to be chosen by the student (10-15 pages for undergraduates; 15-25 pages for graduate students, who will also address theoretical implications of their analyses). Students are encouraged to select a topic related to their majors, or to their own personal interests, for example, metaphors associated with organizations, with athletic contests, etc. Students are expected to explain and interpret the chosen group of metaphors, relating them to material covered in lectures and in the assigned readings, as well as to other materials found in the library, and to draw some conclusions based on their analyses. Papers are due at the beginning of the last class meeting, and will be available for pickup at the time of the final exam. All papers are to be typed or printed, double spaced, with a complete list of references.
Attendance: Since this is almost exclusively a lecture class, students are expected to attend every class meeting, to be on time and to remain for the entire session. If you must miss class, arrange for a fellow student to share lecture notes.
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