The Varying Implications of Metaphor Usage in Discourse

Metaphors are all around us; they are the paintbrush with which our world is created. Though we do not often take heed to the metaphors that are created around us, their presence is guaranteed. Simply put, metaphors are created when we understand one thing in terms of another thing. We use metaphors whenever we need clarity in understanding a concept or idea; in some cases, metaphors are used in different areas of discourse for different purposes. Metaphor use is driven by communication purposes and goals such as the desire to make concepts accessible, to make concepts relatable, in order to get attention and to inspire action