Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1998. Vol. 2. Eger Journal of English Studies.(Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 26)

Studies - Edit Gaál: Dictionaries and methaphors: a consideration of the presentation of methaphoric usages in a selection of dictonaries

extent and way of the word's integration into culture. In the case of words with a higher number of metaphorical usages the meanings seem to be more deeply rooted in culture, there are more associations built with them than in the case of words with fewer usages. Finally, I should like to summarise the findings of this essay. Firstly, the dictionaries examined do note metaphoric usages of the selected words, but under labels, other than metaphors, which relate them to the different varieties of the language. I assume that this treatment originates traditionally from the basic aim of dictionaries, i.e., to give practical (pragmatic) guidance for users and learners of a language. The dictionaries record only fully institutionalised metaphoric usages, which is understandable if we consider that it is impossible to encompass "the varying meanings of words when metaphor can so easily ring changes both semantic and syntactic" (Campbell, 1975). Secondly, I also try to argue that the number of metaphorical usages is dependant on the extent of the meaning of the actual word, and also on the extent of its cultural integration. The work of lexicographers is not all roses but obviously they shoulder the task and do what is possible within the limits of a dictionary. I also tend to believe that dictionaries should not be expected to attempt to specify metaphoric meanings. As we all share the same linguistic ability concerning a natural language, we do not need more information than dictionaries can traditionally provide in order to produce and understand metaphors. References Aitchison, Jean. 1994. Words in the mind: An introduction to the mental lexicon. Oxford: Blackwell. Black, Max. 1962. Models and Metaphors, Ithaca, N. Y.: Cornell University Press Campbell, Paul Newell. Metaphor and Linguistic Theory. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 1975,61, 1-12. Katz and Fodor, The Structure of Language. In The Structure of Language

: Readings in the Philosophy of Language, ed J. A. Fodor and J. J. Katz (Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1964), 479-518. Lakoff, George and Johnson, Mark. 1980. Metaphors We Live By. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago. ill