SYNESTHETIC METAPHOR IN MEDICAL DISCOURSE: A COGNITIVE-LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive cognitive-linguistic analysis of the synesthetic metaphor phenomenon within English-language medical discourse. The relevance of the study is underscored by the growing scholarly attention to metaphor as a fundamental tool of thought and communication in specialized fields, particularly in medicine, where the precise verbalization of subjective sensations, such as pain, is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.The article analyzes recent research that examines synesthesia within the framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory (G. Lakoff, M. Johnson, R. Langacker), the hierarchy of sensory modalities (S. Ullmann), and the concept of conceptual conflict (F. Strik Lievers, M. Prandi). It is noted that despite significant achievements in the study of general conceptual metaphors (e.g., the military metaphor), the specific functioning of synesthetic metaphors, which are based on transfers between basic sensory domains, remains under-investigated in medical communication. The aim of the article is to define the cognitive nature of the synesthetic metaphor, to systematize its types based on the direction of transfer between sensory modalities, and to substantiate its functional indispensability for effective doctor-patient interaction. The article proves that the synesthetic metaphor is a unique type of conceptual metaphor where both the source and target domains are basic and embodied. A classification of synesthetic metaphors used to describe pain (sharp pain), symptoms (metallic taste), and other sensations (ringing in the ears) is proposed, demonstrating their role in “materializing” the patient’s internal experience. The conclusions emphasize that the synesthetic metaphor is not merely a stylistic device but a vital cognitive mechanism that bridges the communicative gap between the patient’s subjective experience and the physician’s objective analysis. Prospects for further research include conducting corpus-based analyses to identify the frequency and patterns of synesthetic metaphor use, as well as cross-cultural comparative studies of their functionality.