Uncle Ned’s Words About Words: Metaphor
My next word about words is “metaphor”, that’s met a 4.
This is not just a word about words, it is a word for words becoming words. Metaphors are words or phrases which have become, or are becoming, useful language because somebody somewhere started using a familiar word or phrase in an entirely new context. Then other folks recognize exactly what that word means in this new way, and they also start using that older word in the same new way. Eventually, the old word has a new (and somewhat less metaphorical) meaning. For example, theoretically, someone a long time ago may have made some kind of sound to let the village know that a sabretooth was prowling close by. If enough villagers caught on, then that noise began to represent the sabretooth (without actually being the sabretooth, of course). Different villagers may have interpreted this proto-word differently, e.g. “Run and hide!” or “I’m getting me some ivory!”.
The point being that much of language began as metaphor. The language that we identify as “metaphor” today is language that is still on that journey toward becoming concrete in our minds. Uncle Ned finds this to be just about the coolest thing about words. Oh! In fact, Uncle Ned just used a very metaphorical word. We will use it in a sentence:
“‘Concrete’ words are not actually made of sand and cement, yet, as metaphor, may serve language more solidly than the poured concrete foundation you are standing on.”
