Windows to the Mind

Sandra Handl

ISBN 10: 3110238187 / ISBN 13: 9783110238181

Published by De Gruyter, DE, 2011

About this Item

Cognitive linguists are convinced that the nature of linguistic structures is strongly influenced by the way we experience and perceive the world and by how we conceptualize and construe these experiences and perceptions in our minds. At the same time, the study of linguistic structure and usage is credited with the potential to open windows to how our minds work. The present volume collects papers investigating linguistic phenomena that reflect the key cognitive processes of metaphor, metonymy and conceptual blending, which have proven to be highly influential in linguistic conceptualization. Theoretical and methodological issues, such as metaphor identification and the relevance of the target domain for children's understanding of metaphor, are focused on in the first section. The second and third parts are devoted to the application of the theoretical frameworks of the conceptual theory of metaphor and metonymy and the theory of conceptual blending to linguistic data. The contributions critically explore the explanatory potential of these theories, build bridges between them, link them with other approaches and notions (such as construction grammar, common ground and stance/evaluation), and uncover conceptual regularities and cognitive models that underlie and shape our language use in specific domains. The linguistic structures under consideration span the range from compounds and premodified noun phrases to constructions and texts such as jokes and political speeches. Methods applied include psycholinguistic experiments, analyses of data culled from authentic language corpora and discourse-analytical approaches.

Seller Inventory # LU-9783110238181

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Windows to the Mind
• Publisher: De Gruyter, DE
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3110238187
• ISBN 13: 9783110238181
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 608 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Focusing on a wide range of linguistic structures, the articles in this volume explore the explanatory potential of two of the most influential cognitive-linguistic theories, conceptual metaphor and metonymy theory and conceptual blending theory. Whether enthusiastic or critical in their stance, the contributors seek to enhance our understanding of how conventional as well as creative ways of thinking influence our language and vice versa.

About the Author

Sandra Handl and Hans-Jörg Schmid, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany.