Fostering metaphorical creativity using computational metaphor identification

ABSTRACT

Metaphor is often seen as a mode of creative thinking or as a means of fostering creativity. However, little work has studied creative generation of novel metaphors. This paper explores the use of computational metaphor identification (CMI) to foster creative generation of novel metaphors. CMI is a technique for analyzing textual corpora to identify potential conceptual metaphors. Drawing those metaphors to readers' attention can provide an opportunity to consider alternatives to current metaphors. This paper describes results from a study using CMI to foster metaphorical creativity in the context of science education. The results show that CMI leads to more creative mappings within metaphors. The key contributions of this paper are a demonstration that CMI can be used to foster more original metaphorical reasoning, and, more generally, implications for the study of metaphorical creativity.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.1 Computer Uses in Education
          Subjects: Computer-assisted instruction (CAI)

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.m Miscellaneous

General Terms:
Experimentation, Human Factors

Keywords:
computational metaphor identification, creativity, metaphor, science education