Source Domain Determination: WordNet-SUMO and Collocation

Conceptual metaphors provide in linguistic form the information that is mapped between two knowledge domains. The examination of conceptual metaphors has always involved a comparison of target and source mappings. However, defining what should be included in any one domain is a difficult issue. This paper claims that patterns in conceptual metaphor mappings can be found by first identifying the source domains through large-scale corpora analysis. Two methods are attested in this paper for source domains determination. These methods are top-down and bottom-up approaches. Top-down approach involves the use of knowledge domain ontology of SUMO (Suggested Upper Merged Ontology) and bottom-up approach involves the examination of collocation (through usage). Through using computational tools, the workability and precision of using these approaches will be compared.