Use of Metaphors in Scientific Domains: The Case of The Big Bang Theory, a Multimodal Analysis

Abstract

Metaphors are one of the most paramount figures of speech in language use and their application dates back to Aristotle's Poetics (c. 335 BC) and Rhetoric (c. ~400 BC). They consist in understanding entities by means of other ones that are somehow related. Despite its recurrent practice from ancient times up to nowadays, there is a lack of exploration regarding multimodality aspects when it comes to metaphors, although studies on construal processes have been directed (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980). Hence, the purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to further explore how various elements of the filmic discourse contribute to deliver messages throughout metaphorical displays and, second, to analyse in which ways the employment of such metaphors as well as their outcomes may be useful to talk about physics either in regular settings likewise in scientific fields. For this research, some scenes from the popular American Sitcom The Big Bang Theory are compiled and selected so as to conduct the inquiry taking the characters into consideration, since one of them is more prone to use more sophisticated language while expressing himself. The methodology employed in order to identify and analyze such linguistic metaphors is by means of the MIP tool (Pragglejaz Group, 2007). Lastly, the ultimate aim of this report is to serve as a basis for an extensive analysis on multimodal metaphor studies using filmic resources to examine how scientific concepts can be treated in non-professional contexts.