Argumentação e metáfora: uma aproximação entre a TAL e a Lingüística Cognitiva

Abstract

This work ains at discussing the Language Argument Theory (LAT) as presented by Oswald Ducrot and his collaborators. More specifically, it will approach the most recent LAT model: the Theory of the Semantic Blocks (SBT). The discussion will focus in argumentative enailments whose constitution comprises metaphoric expressions used as argument or conclusion for the entailment. An overview of the argument studies is presented as tentative to place the LAT in the range of these studies. Once placed the LAT, its origin and development ae discussed until the current model (SBT). Next, SBT’s principles and concepts are presented. Also are some metaphor conceptions introduced in order to justify the adoption of the cognitive metaphor model in the work. Some analyses of statements with metaphoric expressions withdrawn from opinion articles are perormed in order to confirm the thesis that the argumentative power of semantic blocks can only be established when the meanings restated by the metaphoric expressions present in the link are considered. For the treatment of those metaphoric expressions, we adopted the principles of the conceptual metaphor theory, as established by Cognitive Linguistics. Finally, it’s pondered that, being the metaphor part of our cognitive system, it’s impossible not to consider it influence in a study that intends to describe the linguistic system, for the language is directly influenced by the configuration assumed by our cognitive-conceptual system.