Stuck at Level 3 (Professional Level Proficiency): Metaphor Mastery
You know how to describe things. You can say “It’s hot,” “She’s tired,” “He’s angry.” You can name emotions, explain concepts, and recount events. But can you evoke them? 🌡️ Metaphor Is Cultural Temperature Metaphor mastery is the ability to express meaning through imagery that resonates within a culture. It’s not just about being poetic—it’s about being precise . In one language, someone might be “burning with shame.” In another, they “want to dig a hole and hide.” One culture might describe grief as a heavy coat; another, as a swallowed stone. At Level 3, your metaphors may be literal, borrowed, or mismatched. You might say “I’m drowning in work” in a culture that sees stress as fire. Or “I’m walking on eggshells” in a culture that uses glass or thorns. You’re expressive—but not anchored . 🧠Metaphor Reveals Cultural Cognition Metaphors aren’t just decorative—they’re diagnostic. They reveal how a culture thinks, feels, and frames experience. They show whether time is a line ...