Metaphorical Gradient and Disciplinary Configuration in Bulgarian and English Scientific Discourse
Metaphorical Gradient and Disciplinary Configuration in Bulgarian and English Scientific Discourse

Summary/Abstract: The traditional distinction between literal and figurative meaning has often been treated as a binary opposition in linguistic theory. However, recent research in cognitive linguistics and discourse studies suggests that metaphorical meaning operates along a continuum rather than within a strict dichotomy. This article proposes a four-level gradient model of metaphoricity and applies it to the analysis of scientific discourse in Bulgarian and English. Drawing on a corpus of peer-reviewed research articles from linguistics and medicine, the study investigates the distribution of metaphorical expressions across disciplinary and linguistic contexts. Using a modified version of the Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIPVU) combined with gradient classification, the analysis reveals systematic differences in figurative density and activation between the two languages and across disciplinary domains. The findings suggest that scientific discourse does not eliminate metaphor but organizes it through discipline-specific conventions that regulate degrees of metaphorical activation. The proposed gradient model offers a more flexible analytical framework for understanding the dynamic interaction between literal and figurative meaning in academic communication

• Details
• Contents