46.11 Generic and Metaphorical Extension and the Autoclitic Tact

Metaphorical or generic extension can also be a controlling variable for responses such as “like” in the case of metaphorical extension and “kind of” or “sort of” in the case of generic extension. When we say “a dog is like a wolf,” the autoclitic tact “like” is controlled by the nature of the stimulus control: the fact that only some of the stimuli that typically control the response are currently present. “Kind of” or “sort of” is controlled by the presence of unusual accompanying stimulus features that are irrelevant.