Outputs and resources

The EMMA project electro-dermal equipment

Books

Pérez-Sobrino, P., Littlemore, J. and Ford, S. (2021). Unpacking Creativity: The Power of Figurative Communication in Advertising, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press..
Littlemore, J. (2019). Metaphors in the Mind: Sources of Variation in Embodied Metaphor. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pérez Sobrino, P. (2017). Multimodal metaphor and metonymy in advertising (Vol. 2). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Company.
Littlemore, J. (2015). Metonymy: Hidden Shortcuts in Language, Thought and Communication. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Articles in peer-reviewed journals

Fuoli, M., Littlemore, J. and Turner, S. (2021). Sunken Ships and Screaming Banshees: Metaphor and evaluation in film reviews, English Language and Linguistics.
Winter, B., Brown, L. & Pérez-Sobrino, P. (submitted) The sound of soft alcohol: Crossmodal associations between interjections and liquor.
Pérez-Sobrino, P. & Barzotto, M. (submitted) The linguistic impact of job titles in the social perception of manufacturing jobs in advanced economies.
Littlemore, J., Pérez Sobrino, P., Houghton, D., Shi, J., & Winter, B. (2018). What makes a good metaphor? A cross-cultural study of computer-generated metaphor appreciation. Metaphor and Symbol, 33(2), 101-122.
Pérez Sobrino, P., Littlemore, J., & Houghton, D. (2018). The role of figurative complexity in the comprehension and appreciation of advertisements, Applied Linguistics.
Littlemore, J. & Tagg, C. (2018). Metonymy and Text Messaging: A Framework for Understanding Creative Uses of Metonymy. Applied Linguistics, 39(4): 481-507.
Littlemore, J. & Pérez Sobrino, P. (2017). Eyelashes, speedometers or breasts? An experimental cross-cultural approach to multimodal metaphor and metonymy in advertising. Textus, 30(1), 197-222.
Carrol, G., Littlemore, J., & Dowens, M. (2017). Of False Friends and Familiar Foes: Comparing native and non-native understanding of figurative phrases. Lingua, 204: 21-44.
Pérez-Sobrino, P. (2016). Multimodal metaphor and metonymy in advertising: A corpus-based account. Metaphor and Symbol, 31(2), 73-90.
Pérez-Sobrino, P. (2016). Shockvertising: Patterns of conceptual interaction constraining advertising creativity. Círculo de Lingüística Aplicada a la Comunicación, 65: 257-290.

Chapters in edited books

Pérez-Sobrino, P. and Littlemore, J. (2020). What makes an advert go viral? The role of figurative operations in the success of Internet videos, In L. Hidalgo and Kraljevic-Mujic, B. (Eds.) Performing Metaphorical Creativity across Modes and Contexts. Figurative Thought and Language. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Littlemore, J., Perez-Sobrino, P., Julich, N., & Leung, D. (2019). Is comfort purple or green? Word-colour associations in the first and second language. In A. Piquer-Piriz and R. Alejo (Eds.) Metaphor in Foreign Language Instruction. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Littlemore, J., Arizono, S., & May, A. (2018). The Interpretation of Metonymy by Japanese Learners of English, Review of Cognitive Linguistics. In A. Piquer-Piriz and R. Alejo-Gonzalez (Eds.) Applying Cognitive Linguistics. (pp. 51-72). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Pérez Sobrino, P. (2018). Cognitive modelling and musical creativity. In Z. Csábi (Ed.) Expressive minds and artistic creations: studies in cognitive poetics. New York: Oxford University Press.
Pérez Sobrino, P. & Littlemore, J. (2017). Facing methodological challenges in multimodal metaphor research. In A, Baicchi & A. Bagasheva (Eds.) Cognitive Modeling in Language and Discourse across Cultures. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Littlemore, J. (2017). On the role of embodied cognition in the understanding and use of metonymy. In B. Hampe (Ed.), Metaphor, Embodied Cognition and Discourse. (pp. 166-173). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Littlemore, J. (2016). Metonymy. In B. Dancygier (Ed.)The Cambridge Handbook of Cognitive Linguistics. (pp. 407-422). Cambridge: Cambridge University. DOI:10.1017/9781316339732.026

Theses

Ford, S. (2019). The visual language of virtual product design: The semiotics of colour and shape in smartphone app icons. (Master’s by Research dissertation, University of Birmingham, UK).
Ford, S. (2017) Multimodal metaphor and metonymy and the figurative complexity of mobile phone advertising: A comparison between mobile phone manufacturer and network provider advertisements. (Bachelor’s dissertation, University of Birmingham, UK).
Pérez-Sobrino, P. (2015). Expanding the figurative continuum to multimodal settings: multimodal metaphor in interaction with metonymy in advertising. (Doctoral dissertation, University of La Rioja, Spain).

Invited keynote lectures at international conferences and other events

Littlemore, J. (2020) Figurative Language and Thought. Biennial Conference. Sofia, Bulgaria.
Littlemore (2020). Researching and Applying Metaphor. Biennial Conference. Hedmark, Norway, June 2020.
Littlemore (2019). Variation in the Experience of Metaphor.The Polish Cognitive Linguistics Association Annual Conference. Bialystok, September 2019.
Littlemore, J. (2019) International Cognitive Linguistics Association. Biennial Conference. Nishinomiya, Japan, August 2019.
Littlemore, J. (2019). Variation in the Experience of Metaphor: Theoretical and Real-world Consequences. AFLICO, The French Association for Cognitive Linguistics. Eighth Biennial International Conference. University of Mulhouse, France, 5-7 June 2019.
Littlemore, J. (2019). Sources of Variation in the Experiences of Embodied Metaphor. The second Contacts & Contrasts 2019 conference focusing on cultural conceptualizations in language and translation. Konin, Poland, April 2019.
Littlemore, J. (2018). RiBELT Conference on Bilingual Education. Open University of Hong Kong, October 2018.
Littlemore, J. (2018). The power and pitfalls of metaphor in everyday communication. University of Sussex.
Littlemore, J. (2018). Which metaphors are embodied, when and by whom? The International Poetics and Linguistics Association, Biennial Conference. Birmingham, UK, July 2018.
Littlemore, J. (2018). Sixth Foreign Language Teaching and Learning Conference Almaty. Kazakhstan, May 2018
Littlemore, J. Creative Multilingualism Public Lectures. University of Oxford, April 2018.
Littlemore, J. Third International Conference of Figurative Language and Thought (FLT). Osijek, Croatia, April 2017.
Perez-Sobrino, P. Facing multimodal challenges in multimodal metaphor research. Lund University, 16^th March 2017.
Pérez Sobrino, P. (2017). (Extra)ordinary creativity: can figurative language boost the number of views of your Internet advert?. Newcastle University. 2^nd February 2017.
Pérez Sobrino, P. Like & share: Can figurative language make videos more popular in the internet? University of Nottingham, and Ningbo, China. 30^th November 2016.
Pérez Sobrino, P. (2016). Audiobranding: How does your brand sound like? and Exploring the Mind Through Music (workshop). Rice University, Houston. 7th June 2016.
Pérez Sobrino, P. (2016). Create impact. An MSC case study: Culture and metaphor in advertising. Marie Curie Symposium, Research Park, University of Birmingham. 12^th May 2016.
Littlemore, J. (2016). Embodied metaphor and language teaching. University of Umea, University of Vaxjo. 18^th March 2016.
Pérez Sobrino, P. (2016). Metaphors music live by: Metaphors to talk about music, metaphors to reason about music. Metaphor Lab, University of Amsterdam. 9^th February 2016.
Pérez Sobrino, P. (2016). Talking about music is like dancing with architecture: Metaphors to talk and reason about music. ELR seminar series, University of Birmingham. 2^nd February 2016.
Littlemore, J. (2015). Metaphor and metonymy in cross-linguistic communication. Faculty of Letters of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. 7^th October 2015.

Presentations at international conferences (selection)

Littlemore, J. (2020). Variation in the Use of Creative Metaphor Researching and Applying Metaphor, Biennial Conference, Hedmark, Norway, June 2020

Littlemore, J. (2020). Metaphor, Creativity, Emotion and Evaluation: What Are the Links? Fifth International Conference of Figurative Thought and Language, Biennial Conference, Sofia, Bulgaria, September 2020

Littlemore, J. (2020). Sources of Variation in Embodied Metaphor. The Polish Cognitive Linguistics Association Annual Conference, Bialystok, September 2019

Littlemore, J. (2020). Sources of Variation in Embodied Metaphor. Theoretical and Practical Consequences. International Cognitive Linguistics Association Biennial Conference, Nigiomiya, Japan, August 2019
Ford, S. (2017). How do likes and reactions operate as interpersonal politeness strategies when evaluating Facebook status updates posted in 2016. 10th International Symposium of Politeness (SymPol10). St John University, York, 12-14^th July 2017.
Littlemore, J. & Pérez-Sobrino, P. (2019). The role of creativity in metaphor. Oxford workshop, The Creative Power of Metaphor. University of Oxford. 28^th-29^th March 2019.
Littlemore, J. (2019). Working with marketing and communications agencies on their use of figurative messaging. Linguistics in the Professions. University of Lancaster.
Littlemore, J. & Turner, S. (2018). A comparison of metaphor use by synaesthetes and non-synaesthetes. AELCO, Spain.
Pérez Sobrino, P. & Littlemore, J. (2018) Figurative Language in Global Market: A cross-cultural study of metaphor and metonymy in advertisements. FLT, Ojijek, Croatia.
Littlemore, J. & Pérez Sobrino, P. (2016). The man your man could smell like: The role of metaphor, irony, and paradox in the viralisation of advertising campaigns. 6 UK CLC, Bangor University, 19^th July 2016.
Littlemore, J. & Pérez Sobrino, P. (2016). Bridges and icebergs: A corpus-based approach to multimodal metaphor and metonymy. RaAM 11, Freie Universitaet Berlin. 1^st July 2016.
Pérez Sobrino, P. (2015). A corpus-based account of multimodal conceptual complexes in advertising. 2^nd International Symposium on Figurative Thought and Language (FTL), University of Pavia, FTL prize, 28^th October 2015.
Pérez Sobrino, P. & Julich, N. (2015). Metaphors for MUSIC: Different levels of conceptualization. 13th International cognitive Linguistics Conference, University of Newcastle. 20^th July 2015.
Pérez Sobrino, P. Littlemore, J. & Houghton, D. (2015). The reception of computer-generated metaphors. 13th International Cognitive Linguistics Conference, Northumbria University, 20^th July 2015.
Pérez Sobrino, P. (2015). The role of figurative complexity in advertising comprehension. 33^rd AESLA International Conference, Technical University Madrid. 16^th April 2015.

Public engagement and business workshops

Examining language in business - Business Club breakfast briefing. Birmingham, 28^th March 2017.
Everyday creativity in communication. University of Birmingham, 7^th September 2017.
Food for thought. (2016). European Researchers Night 2016, Parlamentarium, Brussels. Over 1200 children and 2000 visitors. 28^th September 2016.
Culture and metaphor in advertising. British Science Week 2016. Library of Birmingham. 42 participants. 12^th March 2016.
La creatividad del día a día: Metáfora y Publicidad. Pint of Science 2016. Irish Tavern, Logroño. Over 120 attendants. 24^th May 2016.

Resources for advertising agencies

Pérez Sobrino, P., Littlemore, L., & Ford, S. (in preparation) The advertiser’s playbook.

Awards

Birmingham Post’s Partnership of the Year Award (2018, November) University of Birmingham and Big Cat Marketing Communications Agency

Media

Metaphors in Advertising, 8 August 2019, Olivia Haysman-Walker
EMMA ads for Umbrella Health launched across the city, 4 Sep 2019, UoB
University of Birmingham’s Big Cat Partnership gets the cream, 2 Nov 2018, UoB
JQ agency Big Cat up for Birmingham Post Business Awards, 30 October 2018, JQ News
Big Cat Agency Announce Collaboration with University of Birmingham to Explore how Audiences Respond to Advertising, 19 April 2018, Big Cat
Collaboration with Big Cat Agency, 9 April 2018, UoB
Big Cat Agency announce collaboration with University of Birmingham to explore how audiences respond to advertising, February 2018, Business Birmingham

If you would like to know more about EMMA, please contact us.