Physics as Metaphor and Vice Versa

The author reviews the linguistic foundations of physics, emphasizing the usage of nouns in Indo-European languages and the role of metaphor in describing natural phenomena. The relationships of language, logic and scientific explanation are then discussed, particularly the limitations inherent in Western logic for modern physics. After exploring the metaphoric nature of terminology in physics, both classical and contemporary, she describes non-verbal metaphors in representations of physical behavior. The final sections illustrate reciprocal contributions from physics vocabulary to contemporary American English and the deployment of physics ideas and language in English prose and poetry.