Publications
Publication details [#10538]
Swinburne, Richard G. 1999. Analogy, metaphor, and religious language In Boeve, Lieven and Kurt Feyaerts. Metaphor and Godtalk (Religions and Discourse 2). Bern: Peter Lang International Academic Publishers. pp. 41–52. 12 pp.
Publication type
Article in book
Publication language
English
Keywords
Place, Publisher
Bern: Peter Lang International Academic Publishers
Abstract
Analogy in relation to metaphor is also the main topic of Richard Swinburne's (Oriel College, Oxford, U.K.) linguistically oriented paper. Adopting a strictly modular linguistic framework, in which morphology, syntax and semantics are defined as separate components of grammar, the function of metaphor is restricted to pragmatics, where mainly non-conventional language use, an adequate understanding of which can only be obtained through encyclopaedic information (context, background knowledge and assumptions, etc.), is analysed. On the level of literal ('normal') meanings, which can be determined through context-free analysis of syntactic and/or semantic relations with other structures, a difference is established between univocal, analogical and equivocal meaning. With respect to the analysis of religious discourse, Swinburne draws attention to the diverse nature of this particular kind of language use, which contains analogical, metaphorical as well as univocal word uses.
(Kurt Feyaerts and Lieven Boeve)