ABSTRACT
We report the successful construction of a pattern based parser to recognize the class of container metaphors. Recognition of a metaphor in this class triggers a transformation that substitutes a correct, literal meaning form in the final representation of the utterance or sentence. The final meaning form reflects a theory of metaphors suggesting bodily experiences as the source of metaphor. A large set of primitives serves as the basic representation language. We conclude that pattern parsers with attached transformations work well for many normally difficult constructions such as metaphors, cliches and idioms.
