Metaphors are play a prominent role in our society. Whether they are being used to teach a lesson or make a concept more approachable, they are prevalent in many aspects of our public and private lives.
Foss defines a metaphor as, “A non-literal comparison in which a word or phrase from one domain of experience is applied to another domain.” The readings continue by stating that a metaphor has two parts: a tenor and a vehicle. The tenor is the topic or subject being explained, and the vehicle is the mechanism or lens through which the topic is viewed.
An effective metaphor can be easily utilized as a method of persuasion. Given a hypothetical situation between two people, as person #1 is delivering a message through a metaphor, he/she is basically processing the message for person #2. This is allowing person #2 to invest minimal mental effort into internalizing the message. The metaphor is also allowing person #1 to dictate how person #2 should think and feel about the message that is being delivered. This essentially means that through the proper use of an effective metaphor, you can almost place a thought (including a processed message and how feels about the message) inside the mind of another person.
A common flaw with the use of metaphors, however, is having an audience that does not fully understand the concept of a metaphor and/or the vehicle. In the recent Marvel film, Guardians of the Galaxy, the protagonist (Starlord) moves his finger across his throat to one of his companions (Drax). Starlord intended to deliver the message that Drax should kill an enemy. Drax, however, is takes this order completely literally, which leads him to ask Starlord, “Why would I rub my finger across his neck?” Later in the film, Starlord makes that slighting remark that something, “went over his head.” Drax responds by saying, “Nothing gets over my head. My reflexes are too great. I would catch it.”
I have also noticed a high usage of metaphors in sports and sports writing. During the 2015 NBA Finals, there were multiple articles published by ESPN (including those published by Grantland.com), that compared basketball players to superheroes. These articles often cited Cleveland Cavaliers forward, LeBron James, seemingly “flying through the air.” LeBron James cannot actually fly. I watched that game, and even though LeBron James’ acrobatics are quite impressive, I know that he wasn’t flying. Instead, the author of this specific article was using a metaphor to create an illustration in his readers’ minds of a heroic figure, soaring over his defenders, to deliver a thunderous slam dunk.
In both my private and professional lives, I use metaphors to make myself and my life experiences more relatable. Without the use of metaphors, I do not believe that I make another person fully understand who I am. When I teach COMM 2110 Interpersonal Communications, I frequently use metaphors to help my students understand a theory or principle of communication.
While metaphors may not be perfect for every rhetorical situation, they can be efficiently applied to a wide range of communication studies.
Hayden Coombs 