Conventional language: How metaphorical is it?

We evaluate a fundamental assumption of Lakoff and Johnson's (1980a, 1980b) view that people routinely use conceptual mappings to understand conventio nal expressions in ordinary discourse. Lakoff and Johnson argue that people rely on mappings such as ARGUMENT IS WAR in understanding expressions such as his criticism was right on target. We propose that people need not rely on conceptual mappings for conventional expressions, although such mapping s may be used to understand nonconventional expressions. Three experiments support this claim. Experiments I and 2 used a reading-time measure and fou nd no evidence that renders used conceptual mappings to understand conventi onal expressions. In contrast, the experiments did I reveal the use of such mappings with nonconventional expressions. A third experiment ruled out le xical or semantic priming as an explanation for the results. Out findings c all into question Lakoff and Johnson's central claim about the relationship between conventional expressions and conceptual mappings. (C) 2000 Academi c Press.