Processing of grammatical metaphor: Insights from controlled translation and reading experiments

Abstract This paper investigates cognitive effort invested in the translation and reading of grammatical metaphor. It is based on the results of two experiments conducted using the methods of keylogging and eyetracking. To test differences in processing, we devised a number of metaphorical and congruent stimuli integrated into a popular-scientific text. In this paper cognitive effort, operationalized through a number of pause and gaze measures, is examined by means of linear-mixed regression modelling. Our results show no difference in processing effort between congruent and metaphorical stretches of text.