The prosaics of figurative language in preschool: some observations and suggestions for research

摘要

In a significant book, Cameron suggested that we study metaphor as 'prosaics' (i.e. as a feature of mundane talk). In this article, by means of a few brief examples, we point to instances of such talk in the setting of preschool. We also discuss some opportunities for learning that such talk could offer children, and what the implications for the development of children's thinking and communication might be. In addition, a few research questions for the study of children and figurative language are proposed.