Metaphor and Semantic Ambiguity Based on Fuyama's Theory of Quantum Cognition

Passing through metaphorical language and reaching literal language requires a path from ambiguity to clarity of meaning. This path starts with seemingly unrelated expressions in terms of meaning, and by passing through the area of unconventional metaphors and transforming these elements into conventional metaphors, it finally leads to literal combinations. Fuyama (2023), considers the process of understanding metaphorical expressions similar to the performance of particles in the double-slit experiment in quantum physics, based on which, determining the particle or wave characteristics of particles, like understanding the category of compositional and non-compositional expressions, after passing through the filter the meaning is accepted by the speakers. To test this hypothesis, through internet questionnaires, 108 participants were asked to answer 192 metaphorical expressions according to the degree of ambiguity; rating them from 1 to 7. The method of conducting this research is descriptive-analytical and the data were extracted from the works of several contemporary Iranian poets. The results show that seemingly unrelated expressions have the highest degree of ambiguity and are responsible for generating new meanings. Also, the overlapping of some areas indicates the change of the category of metaphorical expressions, which depends on the acceptance of new meanings by the speakers.