Synaesthetic metaphors in J. Harris’s novel ‘Blueeyedboy’

Abstract

The paper analyses the phenomenon of a synaesthetic metaphor in fiction as a new metaphorical meaning resulting from processing the data received through different channels of perception. The aim of the study is to determine the mechanisms of how words denoting certain things become individual synaesthetic metaphors in fiction. The novelty of the research is that synaesthetic metaphors are viewed not as a combination of words describing the experiences obtained through one channel by those of another but as words developing new metaphorical meaning through synaesthetic mechanisms. The study demonstrates that this metaphoric evaluation through synaesthesia is specific for the main character: it conveys his negative attitude to the things and people described. The results showed that the metaphorical meanings of the words expressing the character’s emotions were developed through synaesthetic mechanisms such as hearing (primary perception channel) resulting in colour, smell, taste, touch. Nouns denoting objects, places, people and their personal qualities, colours acquire individual metaphorical meanings as a result of intersensory perception. Studying the embodiment of synaesthetic perception in fiction enables the scholars to examine the author’s individual style and conceptual system, the work of cognizing mind and its results reflected in the language in a striking and creative way.