Lakoff's Theory of Metaphor

Lakoff's Theory of Metaphor suggests that our understanding of abstract ideas is often shaped by concrete experiences through metaphorical mappings. For example, we might understand time as a resource ("saving time" or "spending time") because we relate it to physical objects and actions. These metaphors influence how we think, reason, and communicate about complex concepts by linking them to everyday physical experiences, making abstract ideas more relatable and easier to grasp. This theory highlights that language and thought are intertwined, and our use of metaphors reflects underlying cognitive structures.