The Comprehension of Metaphorical Expressions by Jordanian EFL Learners

This study explores the ability of Jordanian learners of English asa foreign language (EFL) to comprehend metaphorical expressions in English andinvestigates whether the use of their first language (L1) conceptual and linguisticknowledge may facilitate the comprehension of these expressions. For this purpose, thestudy adopts a contrastive model developed by Charteris-Black, which consists of sixtypes of metaphor to compare and contrast in both English and Arabic. On the basis ofthis model, the researcher designed a multiple-choice test to assess the participants’recognition of English metaphorical expressions. The results reveal that theparticipants’ receptive knowledge of metaphors varied on the basis of the six types ofmetaphor. The study provides evidence of the possibility that EFL learners displaygeneral conceptualizing capacity regardless of their language, which hints, possibly, atthe potential universality of conceptual metaphor. It also proposes some pedagogicalimplications that may assist EFL learners in acquiring metaphorical expressions inEnglish