Gestural embodiment of spatial schematic information in motion-based and static space-based metaphors

In this study, we examined the types of gestures that occurred with motion-based, static space-based, static object-based, and static event-based metaphors. A group of participants listened to three short stories and then retold them in front of a camera. The camera could record participants’ gestures. Each story contained two metaphors of each type. Our aim was to calculate the frequency of occurrence of metaphoric gestures with these metaphors when participants were retelling the stories. We used a contingency table analysis to make a comparison between the four types of gestures in terms of the number of metaphoric gestures that occurred with them. Results of this analysis showed that the number of metaphoric gestures that occurred with motion-based and static space-based metaphors was significantly higher than the number of metaphoric gestures that occurred with static object-based and static event-based metaphors. Based on these results, it is suggested that metaphoric embodiment of the target of a metaphor in terms of its base is dependent on the nature of spatial features of the base. When base of a metaphor includes more spatial schematic information, it is more likely to be realized in metaphoric gestures. This happens for motion-based and static space-based metaphors.