Mathematicians on the Radio
Seven Metaphors for Doing and Communicating Mathematics
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11273206 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Farzaneh Salehi Kahrizsangi (Faculty of Education University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), Richard Barwell (Faculty of Education University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 177-192 |
| Publication date | 2021-02-07 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Discourse Processes (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0163-853X • E-ISSN: 1532-6950 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/0163853x.2020.1802991 |
| OpenAlex | W3082234478 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 16 |
Metaphors are recognized as bridging scientists’ challenges in communication with the public. In mathematics, however, which often involves abstract concepts and relations, less attention has been paid to the role of metaphors in public communication. In this article we examine the metaphors appearing in the discourse of 10 mathematicians in five radio broadcasts to communicate advanced mathematical concepts and activities to the public. Using Cameron’s metaphor categorization procedure, we recognized seven systematic metaphors, MATH AS: SLOG, A SYSTEM, DISCOVERY, BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTING, A KEY, VISUOSPATIAL, and SLIPPERY/MYSTERIOUS, in the contexts of negative numbers, symmetry, pi, the Poincaré conjecture, and prime numbers. Mathematicians’ talk displayed these metaphoric resources in an emergent and situated way to communicate approximations of advanced ideas. The context and participants’ reactions created a transforming cycle for the interchangeable use of metaphors for both theory-constructive and pedagogical functions
Categorization · Conjecture · Constructive · Context (archaeology · Epistemology · Linguistics · Mathematics education · Metaphor · Pure mathematics · Situated · Computer Science · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Mathematics · Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes · Artificial Intelligence
Features of similarity.
Metaphor and theory change
Researching and Applying Metaphor
Mip
Patterns of metaphor use in reconciliation talk
A Metaphor Made in Public
From Carbon Markets to Carbon Morality
From “Burning Library” to “Green Medicine
Metaphors and Biorisks
Radio Sensors and Electric Storms
Scientific metaphors going public
Complainable Matters
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |