Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on both the categorisation and the identification of metaphoric language. It presents the traditional assumptions for what constitutes a metaphor in both thought and language. The book introduces the studies undertaken for the research and, most importantly, details the methodological process. It discusses the extent to which Lexical Priming theory can account for problematic and less straightforward cases of metaphor usage. The book argues, based on the evidence presented, that any theory of metaphor comprehension, whether cognitive or lexical, must address the intricate associations and relationships occurring at the level of the language. It provides a description of the lexical behaviour of metaphors within nineteenth century writing. If a cognitive approach focuses on language in the mind, the lexical approach, specifically corpus linguistics, focuses on language in the world.