Hypostatization is the mechanism of viewing non-objects as objects. The source domain is the inanimate substance. As objects are physical and tangible, they are easy to conceive and understand. They are also easy to signify, quantify and modify. Therefore, many other things in cognition and in language can be modeled on objects. They are experienced and expressed as objects.

1. Human Beings Hypostatized

Animate things may transfer toward the source domain of the inanimate substance. The following examples show that human beings are modeled on objects:

(1) Tom broke under the cross examination.

(2) The chairman ploughed through the discussion.

(3) She dropped her friend.

(4) Over the next week, more victims—men, women, children—flowed in.

In (1), Tom is thought of as a brittle object, which can break into pieces under heavy weight. The chairman in (2) is considered as a plough, so that he can plough through the discussion, just as the plough does through the land. In (3), her friend is understood as a physical object that can be dropped onto the ground while in (4), the victims—men, women, children—are patterned upon liquids such as water.

2.  Abstracts Hypostatized

Abstracts, when they need encoding into language, may be hypostatized. They are experienced as physical entities. They adopt the features and behaviours of the inanimate substances. For instance:

(5) The three people share their views and hobbies.

(6) He broke her heart and stole her happiness.

(7) We're generating a lot of ideas this week.

(8) My mind isn't operating.

The abstract notions, views, hobbies and happiness, in (5) and (6) are modeled on inanimate objects in general, so they can be shared and stolen. In (7) and (8), the abstract concepts are patterned on specific objects, namely, products and machines.

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