metametaphors

Metametaphor is a term used in rhetoric and literary criticism to refer to a metaphor about metaphor. More specifically, it describes a figure of speech in which the subject of the statement is metaphor or the process of metaphorization itself. By describing metaphor as such, metametaphors invite reflection on how figurative language constructs meaning and how cross-domain mappings influence thought.

Characteristics of metametaphors include self-reference and meta-level commentary. They can be explicit, as in statements like "Metaphor is the scaffolding of thought," or embedded within longer texts that critique or experiment with language. Metametaphors appear in poetry, critical prose, and theoretical discussions of language and cognition.

Purpose and effects include illuminating the power and limits of metaphor, revealing ideological or cultural assumptions encoded in figurative language, and encouraging readers to examine how meaning is created. In scholarly discourse, metametaphors are often used to talk about language itself, offering a way to discuss how metaphor functions without merely employing it in ordinary description.

See also: metaphor, metaphor theory, figurative language, cognitive linguistics.