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From Cognitive Mapping to Cultural Symbolism: A Multidisciplinary Review of Plant Metaphor Research

Author(s)

Qiudi Qin, Xueqin Li*

Affiliation(s)

School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China *Corresponding Author

Abstract

Research on plant metaphors explores how individuals conceptualize abstract experiences through the cognitive, aesthetic, and cultural dimensions of botanical imagery. This multidisciplinary review synthesizes existing scholarship from cognitive linguistics, literature, scientific modeling, and socio-cultural studies to elucidate the transdisciplinary mechanisms by which plant metaphors generate meaning. Grounded in Conceptual Metaphor Theory, the study examines how plants serve as source domains, mapping biological characteristics onto human cognition and cultural expression. The synthesis reveals that plant metaphors function as cognitive structures that facilitate universal comprehension while simultaneously reflecting distinct cultural identities. Specifically, the review highlights their diverse roles: promoting philosophical reflection in literature, structuring theoretical frameworks in scientific discourse, and fostering ecological stewardship in socio-cultural contexts. Crucially, the paper addresses the dual nature of these metaphors, which serve as creative bridges but can also impose cognitive constraints or lead to misunderstandings in science communication and translation. Ultimately, this article identifies plant metaphors as vital intermediaries between natural experience and human cognition, offering a unified framework for future interdisciplinary research.

Keywords

Plant Metaphor; Cognitive Linguistics; Cultural Symbolism; Interdisciplinary Study; Conceptual Metaphor Theory

References

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