Metaphors as used by noted human resource development (HRD) scholars at the Pecs, 2010 conference

Abstract

This article was inspired by the prominent use of metaphors by three noted human resource development (HRD) scholars at the 11th International Conference on HRD Research and Practice Across Europe in Pecs, Hungary, in June 2010. These metaphors provoked two reactions in me: I was grateful, because they made the speaker's ideas more readily accessible to me; on the other hand, Iwondered about the transferability of the metaphors across cultures. This shortessay is my attempt to explore and reflect on those initial feelings in a more formal manner. Descriptions of the metaphors used in Pecs are provided, and therelationship between culture and metaphor is discussed. An example from my context is also given.

Keywords:

• HRD
• metaphor
• culture
• HRD scholars

Notes

1.  Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.