What is an unknown-as-up metaphor?

A conventional metaphor in which what is unknown is represented as up in relation to what is known.

Here is an example in English:

• That's up in the air.

• What is a metaphor for rational processes?

Lakoff, G. and Johnson 1980

• Concept module: unknown-as-up metaphor
• In modular book: Metaphors in English, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H. Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
• In bookshelf: Lexicon

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 18 September 1998

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