Metaphor and Metalanguage

This paper consists of two sections: first, I return to the question of precisely which contextual factors are at work in metaphorical interpretation, and of the relation between asserted, presupposed and implied information; the upshot of this will be a renewed emphasis on metaphor as a discourse phenomenon. Second, I sketch a preliminary argument as to what a social practice account of metaphor might look like. Recent explorations of the contextual factors involved in the interpretation ofmetaphor make crucial use of David Kaplan’s Logic of Demonstratives, with its sophisticated treatment of context-dependence, and of the work on assertion developed by Stalnaker and others. All these approaches take contextual factors or parameters like that of speaker, time and place of utterance, etc., as given or primitive. Recent anthropological research, however, suggests that our practices constitute not only the contents of our utterances but also their contexts. Another recent development in linguistic anthropology is an increased attention to so-called language ideologies or metalinguistic beliefs, i.e., folk theories about the character and functioning of language. These insights suggest that metaphor is so thoroughly dependent on variable contextual and metalinguistic factors that it may well dissolve as a natural kind. At the very least, they suggest a shift away from the view of metaphor as a decontextualized sentence- or utterance-level phenomenon occurring in literate practices, which is still tacitly assumed in much literature on the topic

Introduction: Colonial Humanities and Criticality

Starting from the premise that the humanities are still in urgent need of being decolonized and deprovincialized, this forum, titled “The Rise and Decline of ‘Colonial Humanities,’” offers insights into the development of the humanities disciplines in what are often referred to as “area studies” (a field itself subject to criticism) since the beginning of the nineteenth century. The forum’s perspective on “colonial humanities” acknowledges the violence perpetuated in the name of Euro-American humanities and calls for an in-depth and sustained investigation into the construction of racism and prejudice across our fields. Case studies focus on the “local” development of philology in Turkey (Leezenberg), on critical “coauthorship” with local scholars in literary and historical studies (Berber/Amazigh studies) in Algeria (Merolla), and on the need for increased criticality and self-awareness in the fast-changing field of lexicography (Sear and Turin). The forum is rounded out with a commentary and reflection by Shamil Jeppie

Metaphor and Metalanguage

This paper consists of two sections: first, I return to the question of precisely which contextual factors are at work in metaphorical interpretation, and of the relation between asserted, presupposed and implied information; the upshot of this will be a renewed emphasis on metaphor as a discourse phenomenon. Second, I sketch a preliminary argument as to what a social practice account of metaphor might look like. Recent explorations of the contextual factors involved in the interpretation ofmetaphor make crucial use of David Kaplan’s Logic of Demonstratives, with its sophisticated treatment of context-dependence, and of the work on assertion developed by Stalnaker and others. All these approaches take contextual factors or parameters like that of speaker, time and place of utterance, etc., as given or primitive. Recent anthropological research, however, suggests that our practices constitute not only the contents of our utterances but also their contexts. Another recent development in linguistic anthropology is an increased attention to so-called language ideologies or metalinguistic beliefs, i.e., folk theories about the character and functioning of language. These insights suggest that metaphor is so thoroughly dependent on variable contextual and metalinguistic factors that it may well dissolve as a natural kind. At the very least, they suggest a shift away from the view of metaphor as a decontextualized sentence- or utterance-level phenomenon occurring in literate practices, which is still tacitly assumed in much literature on the topic

Humanitarian Aid in Iraqi Kurdistan

Michel Leezenberg, «Humanitarian Aid in Iraqi Kurdistan», pp 31-48. Humanitarian aid has been an important economic and political factor in Iraqi Kurdistan, but it has had unforeseeable, and at times even paradoxical, effects ; to some extent, it has exacerbated existing negative trends and tendencies. This paper tries to trace some of its main features and implications. After some background, the main stages of this humanitarian involvement will be outlined : from initial relief effort and the establishment of a 'Safe Haven1, aid shifted to a focus on long-term development. Such efforts were increasingly hampered by the progressive social and political disintegration of the region, until a measure of stability was regained with the end of the Kurdish infighting and the implementation of the famous 'food-for-oil' resolution no. 986 of the UN. CPCLeezenberg Michiel. Humanitarian Aid in Iraqi Kurdistan. In: CEMOTI, n°29, 2000. L'humanitaire. L'Albanie. pp. 31-49

Introduction: Colonial Humanities and Criticality

International audienceStarting from the premise that the humanities are still in urgent need of being decolonized and deprovincialized, this forum, titled "The Rise and Decline of 'Colonial Humanities,'" offers insights into the development of the humanities disciplines in what are often referred to as "area studies" (a field itself subject to criticism) since the beginning of the nineteenth century. The forum's perspective on "colonial humanities" acknowledges the violence perpetuated in the name of Euro-American humanities and calls for an in-depth and sustained investigation into the construction of racism and prejudice across our fields. Case studies focus on the "local" development of philology in Turkey (Leezenberg), on critical "coauthorship" with local scholars in literary and historical studies (Berber/Amazigh studies) in Algeria (Merolla), and on the need for increased criticality and self-awareness in the fast-changing field of lexicography (Sear and Turin). The forum is rounded out with a commentary and reflection by Shamil Jeppie