Based on conceptual metaphor theory and speech act, this study aims to examine the communicative functions of language use by analyzing texts used in Seoul’s urban design. Considering that life in a modern society is based on the ecosystem of its cities, the importance of urban design in increasingly felt by modern individuals who share limited space and move along predetermined routes. According to El-Khoury and Robbins (2004), urban design is both an abstract and relative concept, and the purpose of a city can be interpreted differently according to differences in experience and perspective. Conceptual metaphorical language expressions not only have a communicative function but also provide the hearer with a certain perspective by concretizing the events or phenomena indicated by the speaker. Metaphorical language expressions based on metaphors created by the speaker perform speech acts by serving as an effective means of persuasion and communication (Searle 1979). We examine the linguistic aspects based on the metaphor of the development of illocutionary forces in Seoul’s urban design texts.

Shu Ting’s poems attach importance to the expression of personal feelings and show concern for individual value. Although this was not in line with the mainstream ideology of the times, Shu Ting’s poetry did not carry out direct confrontation and rebellion, but radiated the external world through the observation of inner feelings. In this creative process, the poet uses rich images and makes these images multi-directional through metaphor. Based on this, interpreting the images in Shu Ting’s poetry from the perspective of conceptual metaphor can help readers go deep into the text and have a deeper understanding of the internal meaning of Shu Ting’s poetry. From the perspective of conceptual metaphor theory, this paper makes a cognitive interpretation of the flower image in Shu Ting’s poetry from three aspects: flower is human, flower is spirit and flower is life experience. While supplementing previous studies, it provides a new perspective for the in-depth interpretation of the flower image in Shu Ting’s poetry. In Shu Ting’s poetry, a plump flower image is constructed through conceptual metaphor, the cognitive domain of flower image is expanded, the internal tension of flower image is enhanced, and it presents people’s inner demands in the context of the new era on the basis of classical significance, which has modern significance. By analyzing the conceptual metaphor of flower images in Shu Ting’s poetry, we can deeply understand the multiple aesthetic connotation of Shu Ting‘s poetry.

Since sign language uses a visual and gestural mode it has more restrictions in designating concepts compared to spoken language, which uses an auditory-vocal mode. Therefore, sign language is prone to using more metaphorical and metonymical expressions. Since Lakoff and Johnson (1980), many researchers have paid great attention to the observation of the metaphorical and metonymical expressions in various spoken languages. However, the same phenomena have not been thoroughly explored in sign languages, in spite of the fact that sign language frequently employs metaphor and metonymy even in basic words. This paper observes the types of metaphor and metonymy that are used in the adjectives of Korean Sign Language. Because of the arbitrary relation of form and meaning in spoken language, metaphor and metonymy cannot be found in morphologically simple words in spoken language. However, in sign language, metaphor and metonymy are widespread phenomena even in morphologically simple words.