L. David Ritchie:  Scholarly Program

August 30, 2006

Recent Work 

            I recently finished a scholarly book, Context and Connection in Metaphor (Palgrave-Macmillan, expected release December, 2006).  This book incorporates, synthesizes, and extends analyses I have published during the past several years on metaphor theory.  It begins with a review, critique, and synthesis of previous cognitive theories of metaphor, then lays out an original theory of metaphor use and interpretation, Context-Limited Simulation Theory (CLST), drawing heavily on Barsalou’s (1998) Perceptual Simulation Theory of human cognition.  The book also reviews ideas about extended and distributed cognition (Clark, 1997; Hutchins, 1996) and sets the stage for expanding and extending CLST in my future work.  

          After completing Context and Connection, I had the privilege of participating in the Leeds Workshop on Metaphor Analysis, at the Universities of Leeds and York, UK, in May and July, 2006, with the primary mission of developing materials for training social scientists from various disciplines in the use of metaphor analysis.  Discussions at this workshop stimulated several more essays and helped shape my focus for the next stage of my research.  They also provide the basis for developing a specifically communication-based methodology for analysis of figurative language.

Current Projects:

            Subsequent to the Leeds Workshop, I completed two articles applying CLST to data, a third article extending the same ideas as the basis for a cognitive and interactive theory of conversation, and a fourth article (with Cindy Coleman) developing the implications for framing theory; all four have been submitted for publication, and I am currently working on two other data-based articles.  Along with Dr. Char Schell, I have organized a Working Group on the Analysis of Metaphor in Conversation, with the objective of extending the theoretical basis and devising a flexible, communication-based method for analyzing figurative language, including play and humor as well as metaphors.  Members of the working group will gather and analyze data and meet monthly to discuss their work and refine the methodology, laying the foundation for future applications for external funding.  At least three of the graduate students in the Working Group will conduct thesis research and write theses under the supervision of Dr. Schell and myself.  

Near-to-intermediate term (2-5 years):    

          While continuing my work on metaphor theory, I am extending these ideas to a more general cognitive theory of communication in conversational settings.  I have begun  thinking about the application of play theory and humor theory to communication:  I have dealt with these topics in several recent publications, and I am planning new projects to develop a more thorough critique, synthesis, and extension of current theories dealing with humor and play. 

            I am planning two books for the near future.  The first, which I have already begun, will be a book for educated but non-specialist readers about conversation, drawing on cognitive theory as well as on theories of social interaction.  The second book will refine and extend CLST, incorporating the findings from the research projects I plan to complete over the next few years.  In this book, I will consolidate the conceptual work begun in Context and Connection and in my more recent writings, work out some of the difficulties I have already seen in the extension of these ideas, and develop a more formal theory of communication at the interpersonal and small-group level. 

Community service, new classes, and external funding:   

            I plan to use the working group to develop the conceptual basis for external grant applications in collaboration with Dr. Schell and other colleagues:  I expect the approach I am developing to support a variety of applied objectives.  I am developing a series of new classes, including a junior-level course on conversation and a more theoretical course to be offered at the senior and/or introductory graduate level, and I plan to consolidate courses I have recently offered on metaphor and humor in a single course on figurative language, to be offered with rotating topics as an advanced graduate seminar.   

Related interests:  The longer term (beyond 3-5 years).  

            I have begun to incorporate ideas from the play and humor literature as well as ideas about extended and distributed cognition gleaned from Andy Clark (1997) and Ed Hutchins (1996) into my work.  A recent exchange with Jonathan Feinstein of Yale Management School has piqued my interest in creativity theory, and I plan to continue exploring some of the ideas Dr. Feinstein’s (2006) excellent book inspired in me. 

            I have also read fairly extensively in the “meme theory” literature.  Although I share Dan Sperber’s (2000) reservations about memes as a theory, I have been intrigued by the alternative approach to transmission of ideas Sperber (1996) proposes, and I think I see some ways to integrate it both with my own ideas and with some of Feinstein’s  ideas about creativity. 

Key Words:

Conversation

Discourse

Cognitive theory

Perceptual Simulation

Metaphor theory

Figurative language

Language Play

Humor

Cultural Transmission

Distributed Cognition

 

References

            Barsalou, L.  (1999).  Perceptual symbol systems.  Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 22, 577-609. 

            Clark, A. (1997).  Being there:  Putting brain, body, and world together again.  Cambridge, MA:  MIT. 

            Feinstein, J. S. (2006).  The nature of creative development.  Stanford, CA:  Stanford Business Books. 

            Hutchins, E. (1995).  Cognition in the wild.  Cambridge, MA:  MIT Press. 

            Sperber, D.  (1996).  Explaining culture:  A naturalistic approach.  London:  Blackwell.

Sperber, D.  (2000).  An objection to the memetic approach to culture.  In R. Aunger, ed., Darwinizing culture:  The status of memetics as a science (pp. 163-174).  Oxford, England:  Oxford University Press. 

Recent publications and current submissions 

            Ritchie, L. D.  (2006).  Perceptual Simulation of Conversation.  In submission.

            Ritchie, L. D.  and Dyehouse, V.  (2006).  FINE AS FROG’S HAIR:  Three Models for the Development of Meaning in Figurative Language.  In submission.

            Ritchie, L. D.  (2006).  Gateshead revisited:  The integrative function of ambiguous metaphors in a tricky political situation.  In submission. 

            Coleman, C.-L., and Ritchie, L. D. (2006).  Dispensing Information or Propaganda?  Appraising Frames in News Coverage of Prescription Drug Advertisements.  In submission. 

            Ritchie, L. D.  (2006).  Context and Connection in Metaphor.  Basingstoke, UK:  Palgrave Macmillan Ltd.

            Ritchie, L. D.  (2005).  Frame-shifting in Humor and Irony.  Metaphor and Symbol, 20, 275-294.

            Ritchie, L. D.  (2004).  Metaphors in Conversational Context:  Toward a Connectivity Theory of Metaphor Interpretation.  Metaphor and Symbol, 19, 265-287.

            Ritchie, L. D.  (2004).  Common Ground in Metaphor Theory:  Continuing the Conversation.  Metaphor and Symbol, 19, 233-244.

            Ritchie, L. D.  (2004) Lost in “Conceptual Space”:  Metaphors of Conceptual Integration. Metaphor and Symbol, 19, 31-50.

            Ritchie, L. D.  (2003).  “ARGUMENT IS WAR” – Or is it a game of chess?  Multiple meanings in the analysis of imiplicit metaphors.  Metaphor and Symbol, 18(2), 125-146. 

            Ritchie, L. D.  (2003).  Categories and Similarities:  A Note on Circularity.  Metaphor and Symbol, 18(1), 49-53. 

            Ritchie, L. D.  (2003).  Statistical probability as a metaphor for epistemological probability.  Metaphor and Symbol, 18(1), 1-11.