Abstract
Previous literature has either concentrated on the structure and topology of conceptual metaphor schemas or on nature of the conceptual projection and integration networks in metaphor comprehension. Little, if any, attention has been paid to the working of conceptual metaphor schemas and the relationship of conceptual schemas with language in interpretation of a linguistic metaphoric expression. This paper reviews the existing theoretical constructs and argues that metaphor comprehension is bidirectional traffic mechanism involving both perceptual schemas and language. For the purpose, several metaphoric expressions from the Holy Quran have been analyzed to explore the bidirectional traffic mechanism of metaphor comprehension. The findings reveal that metaphor interpretation is not a unilinear process of conceptual projection as conceptual metaphor theory holds nor it is simple online conceptual integration network as held by conceptual blending theories. Rather, metaphor interpretation needs multilinear process of conceptual projection and integration stimulated by language involving either a particular conceptual schema or multiple schemas and semantic structure. This study argues for, what lexical concept and cognitive model theory (LCCM theory) calls, front stage cognition to fully harness the cognitive function of thought and language. The findings also reveal that conceptual metaphor does not reside at the level of cognitive models as LCCM theory held. However, this study does not make any theoretical claim which can only be made after experimental research on how metaphoric expressions are processed and interpreted through fMRI neuroimaging studies