Anger metaphors in the English language

Appendix: Method details

In what follows, I demonstrate the steps taken to retrieve each group of metaphorical expressions manifesting each conceptual metaphor. For the metaphors retrieved from the BNC and dictionaries, I indicate:

1. the lists of the source domain lexical items through which they have been found;
2. the data sources from which they are retrieved.

For the examples retrieved from the Internet I indicate the following:

1. the source domain vocabulary whose collocation patterns are investigated;
2. the model collocation patterns - the collocation patterns of the source domain vocabulary found in the metaphorical expressions used about the concepts other than anger;
3. the predicted collocation patterns - the collocation patterns of the source domain vocabulary in the expected anger expressions.

It is important to mention though that knowledge about the collocation patterns of particular source domain lexical items is not always necessary when searching for specific linguistic metaphors. Sometimes, the already known linguistic metaphors may be used directly as a model for predicting other metaphorical expressions with a similar structure. For instance, the following metaphorical expression is a body-container metaphor for anger.

I am brimming with anger.

In the present work, it was used directly as a model for predicting the patterns of the analogical voice-container metaphors for anger like the following.

Her voice is brimming with anger.

This strategy was employed when identifying the voice-container metaphors that are presented in this study.

Furthermore, since the article analyzes both anger metaphors and a group of other emotion and non-emotion metaphors, initially the retrieval procedure for anger metaphors is presented and then the procedures employed for other metaphors are described. Moreover, the metaphorical anger expressions analyzed in this study were retrieved from data sources first and only in the next step, other emotion and non-emotion metaphors were elicited. Therefore, the collocation patterns of the source domain words in the linguistic anger expressions were also used as a model for predicting analogical patterns in some other emotion and non-emotion metaphors.

Anger metaphors

The metaphor anger is a horse

• The data sources from which the linguistic examples of this metaphor are retrieved: the OED, CALD, ODET and the BNC
• The source domain vocabulary used to retrieve them: bridle, curb, unbridled, rein, harness.

The metaphor angry behavior is aggressive horse behavior

• The data sources from which the linguistic examples of this metaphor are retrieved: CALD and the BNC
• The source domain vocabulary used to retrieve them: bridle, bridled and bridles.

The metaphor angry speech behavior is aggressive snake behavior

• The data sources from which the linguistic examples of this metaphor are retrieved: the OED and the Internet
• The source domain vocabulary used to retrieve them: hiss and venomous attack. [1]

The metaphor an angry gesture is snake behavior

• The data source from which the linguistic examples of this metaphor are retrieved: the BNC
• The source domain vocabulary used to retrieve them: writhing, squirmed and wriggled.

The metaphor anger is an old snake skin

• The data source from which the linguistic examples of this metaphor are retrieved: the Internet
• The source domain vocabulary whose collocation patterns are investigated: slough off and shed
• The model collocation patterns: slough off a bad habit; shed your insecurity
  • Here the source domain items slough off and shed collocate with the words referring to the target concepts of bad habit and insecurity.
• The predicted collocation patterns: slough off anger/fury; shed anger/fury, etc.
  • The source domain items slough off and shed collocate with the target domain nouns anger, fury, etc.

The metaphor anger is a substance in a container (the voice version)

• The data sources from which the linguistic examples of this metaphor are retrieved: the BNC and the Internet
• The source domain vocabulary used to retrieve them: voice for the BNC examples.

The example taken from the Internet is retrieved as follows:

• The model collocation pattern: a tinge of anger in her eyes as in There was a tinge of anger in her eyes
  • In this model expression, the names of three things are mentioned:
    1. a substance name: tinge;
    2. a target domain word: anger;
    3. a container name: eyes.
• The predicted collocation pattern: a tinge of anger in (Xs) voice
  • Analogically, three things are mentioned in the predicted metaphorical pattern:
    1. a substance name: tinge;
    2. a target domain word: anger;
    3. a container name: voice.

The metaphor anger is a fluid in a container (the voice version)

• The data sources from which the linguistic examples of this metaphor are retrieved: the BNC and the Internet
• The source domain vocabulary used to retrieve them: voice for the BNC examples.

The Internet examples are retrieved as follows:

• The model collocation patterns: He was brimming with anger; He is overflowing with anger
  • Three things are mentioned in these expressions:
    1. a fluid name: brimming, overflowing;
    2. a target domain word: anger;
    3. a container name: he (which stands for the body).
• The predicted collocation patterns: (Xs) voice (be) brimming with anger; (Xs) tone (be) overflowing with anger
  • Three things are mentioned in these predicted metaphorical utterances:
    1. a fluid name: brimming, overflowing;
    2. a target domain word: anger;
    3. a container name: voice, tone.

The metaphor anger is a hot fluid in a container (the voice version)

• The data source from which the linguistic examples of this metaphor are retrieved: the Internet
• The model collocation patterns: He is seething with anger; His eyes were simmering with rage
• The predicted collocation patterns: (Xs) voice (be) seething with anger/rage, etc.; (Xs) voice (be) simmering with rage.

The metaphor hidden anger is an object buried in soil

• The data source from which the linguistic examples of this metaphor are retrieved: the BNC
• The source domain vocabulary used to retrieve them: buried.

The metaphor anger is a child

• The data sources from which the linguistic examples of this metaphor are retrieved: the BNC, OED, CALD and the Internet
• The source domain vocabulary used to retrieve them: nurse and breed for the BNC, OED and CALD examples.

The Internet examples are retrieved as follows:

• The source domain vocabulary whose collocation patterns are investigated: conceive, nurture, foster, nourish, give birth and beget
• The model collocation patterns: conceive a plan; nurture talent; foster genius; nourish the virtues; give birth to a new theory; beget violence
• The predicted collocation patterns: conceive anger/fury, etc.; nurture anger/fury, etc.; foster anger/fury, etc.; nourish anger/fury, etc.; give birth to anger/fury, etc.; beget anger/fury, etc.

The metaphor anger is a plant

• The data sources from which the linguistic examples of this metaphor are retrieved: the BNC and the Internet
• The source domain vocabulary used to retrieve them: root and seed for the BNC examples.

The Internet examples are retrieved as follows:

• The source domain vocabulary whose collocation patterns are investigated: germinate, blossom, rooted, fruit and wither away
• The model collocation patterns: an idea germinated as in An idea germinated in his mind; Their relationship blossomed into friendship; These problems are rooted in unemployment; a deeply rooted belief; the fruit of their labor; hope withered away
• The predicted collocation patterns: anger germinated; sth blossomed into anger or anger blossomed into sth; anger (be) rooted in sth or sth (be) rooted in anger; deeply rooted anger; the fruit of (Xs) anger; anger withered away
  • As is evident, here some model examples yield two possible patterns of collocation for source domain vocabulary.

Other emotion metaphors

The metaphors fear is a horse, sadness is a horse and pride is a horse

• The data sources from which the linguistic examples of these metaphors are retrieved: the BNC and the Internet
• The source domain vocabulary used to retrieve them: curb for the BNC examples.

The Internet examples are retrieved as follows:

• The source domain vocabulary whose collocation patterns are investigated: bridle, curb, unbridled, rein and harness
• The model collocation patterns: bridled (Xs) indignation; curb (Xs) anger; unbridled anger; rein in (Xs) temper; harness (Xs) anger
  • Here the collocation patterns of the source domain vocabulary found in the metaphorical anger expressions are used in order to predict analogical patterns in the metaphorical expressions of fear, pride and sadness.
• The predicted collocation patterns: bridle pride/sadness/fear; curb pride/sadness/fear; unbridled pride/sadness/fear; rein in pride/sadness/fear; harness pride/sadness/fear.

The metaphors sadness is an old snake skin, shame is an old snake skin and fear is an old snake skin

• The data source from which the linguistic examples of these metaphors are retrieved: the Internet
• The source domain vocabulary whose collocation patterns are investigated: slough off and shed
• The model collocation patterns: slough off anger/fury, etc.; shed anger/fury, etc.
  • Here too the collocation patterns of slough off and shed in the metaphorical anger expressions are used to predict analogical patterns in the linguistic metaphors of sadness, shame and fear.
• The predicted collocation patterns: slough off sadness/shame/fear; shed sadness/shame/fear.

The metaphor pride is a substance in a container (the voice version)

• The data source from which the linguistic examples of these metaphors are retrieved: the Internet
• The model collocation patterns: a tinge of pride in his eyes as in One could see a tinge of pride in his eyes; a touch of pride in her eyes as in She looked up at him with a touch of pride in her eyes
• The predicted collocation patterns: a tinge of pride in (Xs) voice; a touch of pride in (Xs) voice.

The substance metaphors of fear, sadness and hatred are retrieved in an analogical manner.

The metaphor pride is a fluid in a container (the voice version)

• The data source from which the linguistic examples of these metaphors are retrieved: the Internet
• The model collocation patterns: I am brimming with pride; I am filled with pride; I am bursting with pride
• The predicted collocation patterns: (Xs) voice (be) brimming with pride; (Xs) voice (be) filled with pride; (Xs) voice (be) bursting with pride.

Other fluid metaphors are retrieved in a similar way, that is, by analogy with their corresponding body-container metaphors.

The metaphors fear is a plant and pride is a plant

• The data sources from which the linguistic examples of these metaphors are retrieved: the BNC, OED and the Internet
• The source domain vocabulary whose collocation patterns are investigated: rooted, roots and blossomed for the BNC examples; ripen for the OED example.

The Internet examples are retrieved as follows:

• The source domain vocabulary whose collocation patterns are investigated: seed, wither, rooted and fruit
• The model collocation patterns: the seed of anger; anger (be) rooted in sth; anger withered away and the fruit of anger
• The predicted collocation patterns: the seed of fear/pride; fear/pride (be) rooted in sth; fear/pride withered away; the fruit of fear/pride.

The metaphor love is a plant

The linguistic example of the love is a plant metaphor is taken from the CALD by searching for the source domain word blossom.

Idea metaphors

The metaphor an idea is a horse

• The data source from which the linguistic examples of this metaphor are retrieved: the Internet
• The source domain vocabulary whose collocation patterns are investigated: curb, unbridled, rein, harness, bridle, gallop
• The model collocation patterns: curb (Xs) anger; unbridled anger; rein in (Xs) temper; harness (Xs) anger; bridle (Xs) indignation; the summer galloped by
• The predicted collocation patterns: curb idea/thought; unbridled idea/thought; rein in idea/thought; harness idea/thought; bridle idea/thought; idea galloped.

The metaphor an undesirable idea is an old snake skin

• The data source from which the linguistic examples of these metaphors are retrieved: the Internet
• The source domain vocabulary whose collocation patterns are investigated: slough off, shed
• The model collocation patterns: slough off anger/fury, etc.; shed anger/fury, etc.
• The predicted collocation patterns: slough off idea/thought; shed idea/thought.

The metaphor an idea is a substance in a container

• The data source from which the linguistic examples of these metaphors are retrieved: the Internet
• The model collocation patterns: venom is dripping from her lips; a speck of fear in his face as in There is a speck of fear in his face
• The predicted collocation patterns: idea dripping from (Xs) mind; a speck of an idea in (Xs) head/mind.

The metaphor an idea is a fluid in a container

• The data source from which the linguistic examples of these metaphors are retrieved: the BNC
• The source domain vocabulary used to retrieve them: bursting, poured and flooded.

The metaphor an idea is a plant

This metaphor has been analyzed by G. Lakoff and no new linguistic plant metaphors of idea were investigated in this study.

Notes

[1] Only one metaphorical expression is retrieved from the Internet by using the source-domain-oriented method, that is, by using the expression venomous attack.

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