Most recent experimental research into the features of primary metaphors

The article deals with the most recent experimental research into the features of primary metaphors which significantly contributes to conceptual metaphor theory. The author reviews foreign literature showing that three main features ofprimary metaphors: their universality, fixedness and a widely held assumption that they are learnt early in life - should be considered in their dialectic relationship with specificity, flexibility and innateness. Since this issue has been widely researched and discussed by an American linguist Daniel Casasanto, his works lay the basis for the present review.