"An Abstract Model of Conjecturality"*: Prolegomenon to an Understanding of Labyrinths and Mazes as Metaphors

Abstract

This article addresses some of the problems of meaning that arise when authors use labyrinths - and mazes, too, although to a lesser extent - as metaphors. To this end, it explores the considerable corpus of information prerequisite for a fuller understanding of the metaphorical potential of labyrinths and mazes. An absence of a terminology to distinguish labyrinths from mazes contributes further to the problem as does the manner in which labyrinths and mazes are defined in dictionaries and other reference works, leading to the erroneous assumption that the words "laby­rinth" and "maze" are synonyms. The way in which authors are inclined to assume that there is only one essential form of labyrinth, when, in fact, there are several, aggravates the problem just as much as the assumption that the words "labyrinth" and "maze" are synonyms. Unraveling these issues is important because they affect the meaning and understanding readers derive from the author's use of such metaphors.

Opsomming

Hierdie artikel spreek sommige van die probleme aan wat ontstaan wanneer outeurs die woord "labirint" - asook "doolhof, alhoewel laasgenoemde tot 'n mindere mate - as metafoor gebruik. Met hierdie doel ondersoek die artikel die aansienlike korpus van inligting wat 'n voorvereiste is vir 'n wyer begrip van die labirint en die doolhof se metaforiese potensiaal. Die afwesigheid van terminologie - wat noodsaaklik is om tussen die labirint en die doolhof te onderskei - dra verder by tot die probleem sowel as tot die wyse waarop "labirint" en "doolhof in woordeboeke en ander naslaan­werke omskryf word. Hierdie omskrywings lei tot 'n wanbegrip dat die onderskeie woorde sinsverwante begrippe is. Die wyse waarop outeurs geneig is om die aanname te maak dat daar slegs een essensiele labirintvorm is, terwyl daar verskeie vorme bestaan, vererger die probleem in dieselfde opsig as die aanname dat die woorde "labirint" en "doolhof' sinsverwant is. Oil is dus belangrik dat hierdie kwessies uitgeklaar word omdat dit die betekenis en begrip wat lesers van die outeur se gebruik van sodanige metafore aflei, beinvloed.