Subjunctive Simulations

Subjunctive Secular

Come what may, I will pass this module Whatever comes to pass, I shall complete this module

It is not as if I were stupid, I can do this! It’s not as if I was stupid, I can do this!

If I were you, I should bet on the red If I was you, I should bet on the red

Dr.C asked that Fred submit his IS Proposal Dr.C asked that Fred submits his IS Proposal

It is urgent that you be at the next meeting It is urgent that you are at the next meeting

If only she were here, we could have some fun If only she was here, we could have some fun

I wish I knew I wish I know

It is necessary that my lecture be cancelled It is necessary that my lecture is cancelled

If I were rich then I would … If I was rich then I would …

Were I in charge I would provide free lunches Was I in charge, I would provide free munches

I wish I were you I wish I was you

Subjunctive Mood in Language

Metaphors for Models

An Example From Lakoff

“Our relationship has hit a dead-end street”.

“Look how far we’ve come. It’s been a long, bumpy road. We can’t turn back now. We’re at a crossroads. We may have to go our separate ways. The relationship isn’t going anywhere. We’re spinning our wheels. Our relationship is off the track. The marriage is on the rocks. We may have to bail out of this relationship”

Ontological MetaphorsHe broke down The mind is a machine

Heat flows Heat is a fluid (object)Land is in sight Visual field is a container (object)I made a plane out of paper Out/in (relationship)I shot him out of desperation Out/in (relationship)Now I see the solution Visual field (space)Inflation is eating up our profits

Gentner’s Theory

A Generalised Understanding?

Lakoff’s Love is a journey. A journey implies movement, therefore there must be change . This occurs in time, therefore time exists.

If there is change there must be something to change. We call them “states”

But states must exist somewhere. So we assign them to entities called objects.

An object cannot change its own state since it would then not be uniquely defined as an object. Therefore something else must change an object’s state. This must be a another object.

Therefore there must be relationships between objects.

Since there is more than one object, there must be a place for these objects to exist. This place is called space.