Can discourse properties of metaphor affect metaphor recognition?

This paper presents an empirical study of metaphor recognition by means of an underlining task in a famous Bob Dylan song, "Hurricane". The paper develops a three-dimensional approach to metaphor processing, in which metaphors are assumed to have linguistic, conceptual, and communicative functions for the construction of a mental representation of the discourse [Understanding Metaphor in Literature: An Empirical Approach, Longman, London, 1994]. A selection of structural metaphor properties for each of these discourse functions is discussed, and predictions are formulated regarding which variables are deemed to boost metaphor recognition. Five of the eight variables are shown to behave according to the predictions. The other three variables are related to each other and do not conform to the expectations. Some possible explanations of the results and suggestions for further research are offered in the conclusion. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.