When scalarity meets cross-domain mapping: A corpus-based lexical-conceptual analysis of metaphorical hyperbole

Abstract

Metaphor and hyperbole are traditionally treated as distinct tropes, yet they frequently co-occur in discourse, raising theoretical questions about the nature of metaphorical hyperbole. Despite increasing scholarly interest, the structural relationship between metaphor and hyperbole, particularly how they interact within a single lexical unit, remains an open question. Addressing this gap, the present study develops a lexical–conceptual account of metaphorical hyperbole and examines its linguistic realization in a corpus of promotional hospitality discourse. Through systematic lexical analysis, we identify the frequency, source domains, and linguistic realizations of metaphorical hyperbole in authentic texts. We demonstrate that metaphorical hyperbole arises when the metaphorical mapping provides the basis for scalar modification. We further distinguish two subtypes of metaphorical hyperbole based on whether encyclopedic knowledge is required to interpret the mapping. By elucidating the structural properties and usage patterns of metaphorical hyperbole, the study broadens the typological scope of Conceptual Metaphor Theory and underscores the importance of examining composite tropes that operate simultaneously rather than in isolation.