Number of shared topic-vehicle significant features affects speakers’ preference for metaphorical expressions

This study examined whether the number of shared topic-vehicle significant features affects speakers’ preference for use metaphorical rather than literal expressions. Across five experiments, participants were asked to choose one expression that best paraphrased a given sentence from list options. The results Experiments 1 and 5 showed participants’ choice increased with greater numbers in sentence. In 2 4, we found effect unshared was smaller features. Experiment 3 replicated findings when metaphors replaced similes. Our suggest topic-attributed support fundamental tenets inexpressibility hypothesis context metaphor form preference.