Metaphors are fundamental structures that significantly shape both human language and cognitive processes, according to a new study. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences have developed a formal framework and empirical methodology to analyze these pervasive linguistic tools. Their comprehensive study, employing complex systems tools, identified a distinct network of metaphors that clearly separates abstract and concrete categories. This network highlights two primary metaphorical processes: the mapping of concrete concepts to abstract ones, a common method for understanding complex ideas, and the emergence of new connections between different concrete domains. These findings suggest that metaphors are not arbitrary but are driven by inherent contrast and tension, which in turn facilitates re-conceptualization and the discovery of novel similarities.
The research provides empirical backing for the field of cognitive linguistics, which has long proposed that metaphors are central to thought structuring. The study demonstrates that metaphors act as bridges, grounding abstract concepts in more concrete, embodied experiences. The analysis, detailed in PLOS Complex Systems, indicates that these metaphorical connections are stable over time, influencing how individuals conceptualize the world. The implications extend beyond linguistics, offering valuable insights for artificial intelligence and machine learning. The systematic analysis of metaphorical processes, particularly the concrete-to-abstract mapping, could lead to more sophisticated AI systems capable of nuanced language understanding and generation. The study posits that the tension between concepts is a key driver for metaphorical creation, a principle that could be leveraged in AI development for adaptive learning, underscoring metaphors' role as deeply embedded mechanisms for re-conceptualization and discovery in both human cognition and future AI advancements.