17. Metaphor in physical-and-speech action expressions

In this chapter, I discuss a phenomenon observed on the shifting borders of metaphor that I have called ‘physical-and-speech action’ expressions. These expressions combine a physical action verb with a prepositional particle and a speech action verb: stand up and declare, turn round and say, sit down and talk, and the physical action verb metaphorically carries attitude and value in respect of the speech action. I present empirical findings around two such expressions, using a methodology that combines small and large corpora, and offer a theoretical explanation, using complex dynamic systems theory and recent developments in grounded cognition to integrate the social, cognitive, linguistic and affective.