Symposium Description
This symposium revolves around the use of metaphors in English. It begins by outlining the basic elements of a metaphor and explains the types of metaphor used in English. It then shows the uses and functions of metaphors in various everyday situations and academic contexts.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify metaphors and their basic elements in the English language
- Recognise metaphors in English language and literature
- Generate effective metaphors in English
- Use metaphors effectively in academic contexts and within a classroom environment for better communication and elucidation.
Target Audience
KUST and non-KUST community, particularly faculty members, educators, teachers, and students, who wish to learn (more) about metaphors and their uses, and who like to boost their communication skills in English.
Speakers
1. Ala Talabani (PhD), Vice President for Student Affairs and Registration and lecturer of English at Komar University of Science and Technology
What Constitutes a Metaphor?
The presentation introduces the audience to one of the most important figures of speech in English language and literature: the metaphor. It explains the essential elements and requirements of a metaphor and outlines the various types of metaphor with illustrations.
2. Jutyar Salih, Teacher at University of Sulaimani and visiting lecturer at UHD
Arsto Ahmed, Teacher at University of Sulaimani and visiting lecturer at Cihan University
Brief Bio
Jutyar Salih (also Jutyar Zhazhlaiy) is a university teacher, published translator, short-story writer and animal activist. He has earned his BA in English Language and Literature from University of Sulaimani and his MA in English Literature from University of Essex/ UK. Since 2007, Mr Salih has been publishing written and translated literary texts and short stories in local newspapers, magazines, and websites. His debut translated book, Sêşemman legel Morîy (Tuesdays with Morrie) came out in 2014 and became #1 bestseller in Sulaimani months after its publication. He published a second book- a translation of The Five People You Meet in Heaven- in 2016. Mr Salih is now teaching translation and literature classes at the Department of English/ University of Sulaimani, he is also a PhD candidate in English literature.
Arsto Ahmed is a university instructor and lecturer. He has his BA in English Language and Literature from University of Sulaimani and his MA in English Literature from Exeter University. He is currently a member of staff at the Department of English at the University of Sulaimani and a lecturer at Cihan University.is a university instructor and lecturer. He has his BA in English Language and Literature from University of Sulaimani and his MA in English Literature from Exeter University. He is currently a member of staff at the Department of English at the University of Sulaimani and a lecturer at Cihan University.
Laughter Metaphors
Metaphors are not magic words that appear only in poems and novels. They can rather be created by all of us, perhaps unknowingly, in various everyday situations. Sometimes, especially in literature, metaphors carry symbolic and/or aesthetic values, but some other times they only provoke delighted laughter. This presentation focuses on some funny and creatively-constructed metaphors that, when spoken, delight people and bring much laughter to participants of conversations.
3. Jalal M. Al-Razaz, Lecturer at the Department of English, Cihan University, and Online Moderator at Arizona State University / Coursera TESOL Program
Brief Bio
Jalal M. Al-Razaz has been mainly involved in teaching English and American literature courses at undergraduate and graduate levels for most of his career as a university professor; also, Communication and Critical Thinking, College Writing, Translation, as well as EFL/ESL and preparatory courses for IELTS and TOEFL. Further, he is a co-author of a book: “Eighteenth Century English Poetry” and several books in translation for the Center for Arab Gulf Studies (Basrah University). He is a career translator and, in his expat years, he has been professionally involved with interpretation for several establishments in the U.A.E., mainly the US TealTeam (World Bank Conference) and (Dubai International Film Festival). He was also, for two years, Arabic editor of three bilingual magazines published by The Media Factory, FZ LLC, Dubai Media City. His recent interests extend to web skills and educational technology.
“Metaphors in Life and Literature”
Metaphors are not only common but also an integral part of human culture, life, and literature. They have attracted the attention of people from different specialisations, including professionals in the fields of philosophy, language and linguistics, rhetoric, as well as psychology- among other disciplines. These professionals look at the subject from expert points of view and come up with intricate definitions, the interpretation of which sometimes requires close scrutiny. The general speakers and readers- including students in our case, however, are usually fascinated but also sometimes intrigued by the subject. The presentation introduces metaphor through a survey of the intricate definitions- that may challenge the readers, to conclude with a view that makes the subject within the reach of the individual who wishes to enjoy rather than be baffled by the subject.
4. Azad H. Fatah, Chairman of the English Department in Sulaimani University and Lecturer at the English Department at Komar University of Science and Technology
Brief bio
Azad H. Fatah is currently the lecturer at Komar University of Science and Technology and the chairman of the English Department in Sulaimani University. He obtained his MA in English Syntax and his PhD in Cognitive Linguistics. He translated the book from English into Kurdish entitled Handbook for Journalists (2003). He published three articles about both English and Kurdish morphology and semantics. He was the member of more than 8 MA examining committees in English Language and linguistics and supervised two MA students. Now, he is giving BA and MA courses in different universities.
Conceptual Metaphor: a Cognitive Account
The metaphor is a device employed to explain the nature of complex issues or hard-to- understand ideas. Unlike the classical view which sees metaphor as a literary feature of language or a figurative use of language, Cognitive Semantics views it as a process which helps to conceptualise a particular concept in different ways. He tries to focus on the conceptual structures, patterns of metaphor, and types of metaphor from that cognitive perspectives.
5. Zana Hassan, Instructor at University of Sulaimani and visiting lecturer at Komar University of Science and Technology
Brief Bio
Zana Mahmood Hassan was born in 1987 in Sulaimani, Iraq. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in the English Language at the University of Sulaimani, Iraq in 2008. He then studied his Masters in TESOL at the University of Huddersfield in the UK in 2012 . He has published some academic papers related to EFL teaching and material evaluation. He is now a PhD student in Applied Linguistics. He is currently teaching EFL at University of Sulaimani and a visiting Lecturer at KUST.
“Teachers’ Use of Metaphors in Class”
The presentation focuses on the metaphorical expressions that are commonly used inside the class by teachers to explain topics. It is important that learners have some idea about those expressions in order to understand the teacher’s point of view when s/he uses those expressions.
Schedule of the Symposium
Time Activity
01:00 PM – 01:05 PM INTRODUCING THE SYMPOSIUM (DR. MUAYAD JAJO)
01:05 PM – 01:25 PM “WHAT CONSTITUTES A METAPHOR?” (DR. ALA TALABANI)
01:25 PM – 01:45 PM “LAUGHTER METAPHORS” (MR. JUTYAR SALIH AND MR. ARSTO AHMED)
01:45 PM – 02:05 PM “METAPHORS IN LIFE AND LITERATURE” (MR. JALAL M. AL-RAZAZ)
02:05 PM – 02:20 PM BREAK
02:20 PM – 02:40 PM CONCEPTUAL METAPHOR: A COGNITIVE ACCOUNT (DR. AZAD H. FATAH)
02:40 PM – 03:00 PM “TEACHERS’ USE OF METAPHORS IN CLASS” (MR. ZANA HASSAN)
03:00 PM – 03:05 PM CONCLUDING THE SYMPOSIUM (DR. MUAYAD JAJO)