Non-Literal communication and the role of shared knowledge: From cognitive theory to real-world applications and back again

Much of language is used non-literally and its interpretation involves metaphor and metonymy. The comprehension of non-literal language requires a considerable amount of shared knowledge on the part of the interlocutors and many theories of metaphor and metonymy are based on studies where this shared knowledge is available. The overall aim of this project is to investigate impediments to understanding resulting from variation in non-literal language and thought in various contexts. To this end, metonymy and metaphor will be studied in different settings where the level of shared understanding between interlocutors is somehow reduced: cross linguistic/cross-cultural communication; communication with individuals who have psychological impairments; and human-computer interaction. Twelve different doctoral investigations will be conducted across Europe, divided into four strands: Strand A: Non-literal language in cross-linguistic communication and language learning Strand B: The psychological processing of non-literal language by individuals with psychological impairments and its applications to psychotherapy Strand C: Non-literal language in professional communication Strand D: Non-literal language in human-computer interaction Strand A involves research into the ways in which language teachers and translators can best deal with non-literal language and the challenges that it presents. Strand B comprises the psychological component of the project, investigating the ways in which metaphor and metonymy are processed by people with psychological disorders. Strand C investigates how metaphor and metonymy in financial services advertising are processed by potential customers with varying degrees of financial expertise, and the use of non-literal language in the discussion of ethics. Strand D focuses on the interpretation and generation of non-literal language by computers, including study of the formal semantics of metaphor and metonymy.