Abstract:

The article aims to look at the reasons for and consequences of the inappropriate use of metaphors. The novelty of the research lies in the interpretation of misused metaphors in terms of their functional purposes. The focus is placed on two types of metaphor misuse: a) as a result of a grammar mistake, demonstrating the clash of ornamental and cognitive functions; b) as a result of a rhetorical mistake, leading to violation of the explanatory function of the metaphor. To establish clear principles of empirical material selection, a distinction is drawn between the notions of metaphor misuse and mixed metaphor. The research concludes that the inappropriate use of metaphor stems from the following: 1) unintentional collision of semantically incompatible source and target domains, which results in careless grammar; 2) deliberate collision of semantically incompatible source and target domains for humorous effect; 3) establishing an essentially inaccurate, albeit seemingly logical, analogy, which leads to building up inadequate or defective knowledge of the described reality.

Keywords: