Metaphors in Use
The First Symposium on Language and Literature titled “Metaphors in Use” was held on May 11, 2017 in the KUST Auditorium at Komar University of Science and Technology. The symposium was organized by the Department of English at Komar University in collaboration with Komar Research Center (KRC). The speakers are prominent professors of English and educations who come from Komar University, Sulaimaniya University and Cihan University: Dr. Ala Talabani, Mr. Jutyar Salih, Mr. Arsto Ahmed, Mr. Jalal M. Al-Razaz, Dr. Azad H. Fatah and Mr. Zana Hassan. Details about the speakers and their presentations are provided below.
The symposium revolves around the use of metaphors in English. It begins by outlining the basic elements of a metaphor and explains the types and requirements of metaphor. It then explains and illustrates the various uses and functions of metaphors in different everyday situations and educational contexts.
President of Komar University Dr. Salah Aziz and Vice President Dr. Jalal Saeed honored the event with their presence. Director of Komar Research Center (KRC) Dr. Zmnako Awrahman, CIEP Academic Director Dr. Zanyar Faiq, a number of CIEP instructors including Ms. Zareena Younis and Ms. Arezou Karimi, KUST faculty members and staff as well as teachers from other universities also attended the symposium. A number of KUST and CIEP students also showed up for the event. The speakers were awarded certificates of appreciation by KRC at KUST. The event was photographed by Mr. Balen and Miss. Aziz Aras.
Symposium and Speaker Details
| Symposium Title | The department of english first symposium on language and literature: Metaphors in use |
| Organizing Department / Center / Unit | Department of English in Collaboration with Komar Research Center (KRC) |
| Symposium Duration: | 2 hours |
| Symposium Date and Time | Thursday May 11, 2017
1:00 p.m. |
| Place | KUST Auditorium |
| Symposium Description | This symposium revolves around the use of metaphors in English. It begins by outlining the basic elements of a metaphor and explains the types of metaphor used in English. It then shows the uses and functions of metaphors in various everyday situations and academic contexts. |
| LOs | Identify metaphors and their basic elements in the English language
Recognize metaphors in English language and literature Generate effective metaphors in English USE metaphors effectively in academic contexts and within a classroom environment for better communication and elucidation |
| Targeted Audience | KUST and non-KUST community, particularly faculty members, educators, teachers, and students, who wish to learn (more) about metaphors and their uses, and who like to boost their communication skills in English. |
| Number of Speakers / Presenters | 6 |
| Number of Lectures / Presentations | 5 |
| Speaker and Lecture / Presentation Details | |
| First Speaker | Name |
| Dr. Ala Talabani | |
| Current Position and Work Address | |
| Vice President for Student Affairs and teacher of English at Komar University of Science and Technology | |
| Brief Bio | |
| Ala Talabani is the Vice President for Student Affairs and a faculty member at the Department of English, Komar University of Science and Technology. She has earned a B.A., an M.A. and a Ph.D. in English and American literature. | |
| Contact Info | |
| Email:
talabani.ala@komar.edu.iq |
|
| Title of Lecture / Presentation | |
| “What Constitutes a Metaphor?” | |
| Abstract | |
| This presentation introduces the audience to one of the most important figures of speech in English language and literature: the metaphor. It explains the essential elements and requirements of a metaphor and outlines the various types of metaphor with illustrations. | |
| Lecture / Presentation Duration | |
| 20 minutes | |
| Second and Third Speakers | Name of Second Speaker |
| Mr. Jutyar Salih | |
| Current Position and Work Address | |
| Teacher at Sulaimani University and visiting lecturer at UHD | |
| Brief Bio | |
| Jutyar Salih (also Jutyar Zhazhlaiy( is a university teacher, published translator, short story writer and animal activist. He has earned his BA in English Language and Literature from University of Sulaimani and his MA in English Literature from University of Essex/ UK. Since 2007, Mr Salih has been publishing written and translated literary texts and short stories in local newspapers, magazines, and websites. His debut translated book, Sêşemman legel Morîy (Tuesdays with Morrie) came out in 2014 and became #1 bestseller in Sulaimani months after its publication. He published a second book- a translation of The Five People You Meet in Heaven- in 2016. Mr Salih is now teaching translation and literature classes at the Department of English/ University of Sulaimani, he is also a PhD candidate in English literature. | |
| Contact Info | |
| jutyar.salih@univsul.edu.iq | |
| Name of Third Speaker | |
| Mr. Arsto Ahmed | |
| Current Position and Work Address | |
| Teacher at Sulaimani University and visiting lecturer at Cihan University, | |
| Brief Bio | |
| Ahmed is a university instructor and lecturer. He has his BA in English Language and Literature from University of Sulaimani and his MA in English Literature from Exeter University. He is currently a member of staff at the Department of English at University of Sulaimani and a lecturer at Cihan University. | |
| Contact Info | |
| arsto.ahmed@hotmail.com | |
| Title of Lecture / Presentation | |
| Laughter Metaphors | |
| Abstract | |
| Metaphors are not magic words that appear only in poems and novels. They can rather be created by all of us, perhaps unknowingly, in various everyday situations. Sometimes, especially in literature, metaphors carry symbolic and/or aesthetic values, but some other times they only provoke delighted laughter. This presentation focuses on some funny and creatively-constructed metaphors that, when spoken, delight people and bring much laughter to participants of conversations. | |
| Lecture / Presentation Duration | |
| 20 minutes | |
| Fourth Speaker | Name |
| Mr. Jalal M. Al-Razaz | |
| Current Position and Work Address | |
| Lecturer at the Department of English, Cihan University, and Online Moderator at Arizona State University / Coursera TESOL Program | |
| Brief Bio | |
| Jalal M. Al-Razaz has been mainly involved in teaching English and American literature courses at undergraduate and graduate levels for most of his career as a university professor; also, Communication and Critical Thinking, College Writing, Translation, as well as EFL/ESL and preparatory courses for IELTS and TOEFL. Further, he is co-author of a book: “Eighteenth Century English Poetry” and several books in translation for the Center for Arab Gulf Studies (Basrah University). He is a career translator and, in his expat years, he has been professionally involved with interpretation for several establishments in the U.A.E., mainly the US TealTeam (World Bank Conference) and (Dubai International Film Festival). He was also, for two years, Arabic editor of three bilingual magazines published by The Media Factory, FZ LLC, Dubai Media City. His recent interests extend to web skills and educational technology. Hobbies, among other things: creative writing, photography, and tennis. | |
| Contact Info | |
| Email:
alrazaz@gmail.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalal-m-al-razaz-04ba073a Personal Blog: http://mywebsource.blogspot.com |
|
| Title of Lecture / Presentation | |
| “Metaphors in Life and Literature” | |
| Abstract | |
| Metaphors are not only common but also an integral part of human culture, life, and literature. They have attracted the attention of people from different specializations, including professionals in the fields of philosophy, language and linguistics, rhetoric, as well as psychology- among other disciplines. These professionals look at the subject from expert points of view and come up with intricate definitions, the interpretation of which sometimes requires close scrutiny. The general speakers and readers- including students in our case, however, are usually fascinated but also sometimes intrigued by the subject. The presentation introduces metaphor through a survey of the intricate definitions- that may challenge the readers, to conclude with a view that makes the subject within the reach of the individual who wishes to enjoy rather than be baffled by the subject. | |
| Lecture / Presentation Duration | |
| 20 minutes | |
| Fifth Speaker | Name |
| Dr. Azad H. Fatah | |
| Current Position and Work | |
| Chairman of the English Department in Sulaimani University and Lecturer at the English Department at Komar University of Science and Technology | |
| Brief Bio | |
| Dr. Azad H. Fatah is currently the lecturer at Komar University of Science and Technology and the chairman of the English Department in Sulaimani University. He obtained his MA in English Syntax and his PhD in Cognitive Linguistics. He translated the book from English into Kurdish entitled Handbook for Journalists (2003). He published three articles about both English and Kurdish morphology and semantics. He was the member of more than 8 MA examining committees in English Language and linguistics and supervised two MA students. Now, he is giving BA and MA courses in different universities. | |
| Contact Info | |
| azad.hasan@komar.edu.iq | |
| Title of Lecture / Presentation | |
| Conceptual Metaphor: a Cognitive Account | |
| Abstract | |
| Metaphor is a device employed to explain the nature of complex issues or hard-to- understand ideas. Unlike the classical view which sees metaphor as a literary feature of language or a figurative use of language, Cognitive Semantics views it as a process which helps to conceptualize a particular concept in different ways. He tries to focus on the conceptual structures, patterns of metaphor, and types of metaphor from that cognitive perspectives. | |
| Lecture / Presentation Duration | |
| 20 minutes | |
| Sixth Speaker | Name |
| Mr. Zana Hassan | |
| Current Position and Work Address | |
| Instructor at Sulaimani University and visiting lecturer at Komar University of Science and Technology | |
| Brief Bio | |
| Zana Mahmood Hassan was born in 1987 in Sulaimani, Iraq. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in the English Language at the University of Sulaimani, Iraq in 2008. He then studied his Masters in TESOL at the University of Huddersfield in the UK in 2012 . He has published some academic papers related to EFL teaching and material evaluation. He is now a PhD student in Applied Linguistics. He is currently teaching EFL at University of Sulaimani and a visiting Lecturer at KUST. | |
| Contact Info | |
| Email:
zana.hassan@komar.edu.iq |
|
| Title of Lecture / Presentation | |
| “Teachers’ Use of Metaphors in Class” | |
| Abstract | |
| This presentation focuses on the metaphorical expressions that are commonly used inside the class by teachers to explain topics. It is important that learners have some idea about those expressions in order to understand the teacher’s point of view when s/he uses those expressions. | |
| Lecture / Presentation Duration | |
| 20 minutes | |
| Symposium Schedule: | |
| Time | Activity |
| 1:00 p.m. – 1:05 p.m. | Introducing the Symposium (Dr. Muayad Jajo) |
| 1:05 p.m. – 1:25 p.m. | “What Constitutes a Metaphor?” (Dr. Ala talabani) |
| 1:25 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. | “LAUGHTER METAPHORS” (Mr. jutyar salih and Mr. arsto ahmed) |
| 1:45 p.m.– 2:05 p.m. | “Metaphors in Life and Literature” (Mr. Jalal M. Al-Razaz) |
| 2:05 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. | BREAK |
| 2:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. | Conceptual Metaphor: a Cognitive Account (dr. azad h. fatah) |
| 2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | “Teachers’ Use of Metaphors in Class” (Mr. Zana Hassan) |
| 3:00 p.m. – 3:05 p.m. |
Concluding the Symposium (Dr. Muayad Jajo) |
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