Semantics - A Cognitive Account of Linguistic Meaning - Zeki Hamawand
5. Conceptual structures
Semantics - A Cognitive Account of Linguistic Meaning - Zeki Hamawand
Zeki Hamawand [+]
University of Kirkuk and University of Sulaimani
Description
Chapter 5 discuses the central roles in language assigned to conceptual structures, namely knowledge representations which pertain to the organization of conceptsin the human conceptualsystem.The chapterincludesthree sections. Section 5.1 defines the conceptual system and highlights its role in reflecting language. Section 2 enumerates forms of conceptual structure. Section 5.2.1 covers metaphor, whereby something is compared to something else which has the same characteristics. Section 5.2.2 concerns metonymy, whereby something is substituted by something else which is closely connected with it. Section 5.2.3 pertains to image schemas, abstract patterns which derive from our everyday interaction in the world and provide the basis for more richly detailed lexical concepts. Section 5.2.4 relates to mental spaces, knowledge patterns containing specific kinds of information and constructed for interpretive purposes. Section 5.2.5 explains blending, whereby selected elements from two mental spaces are incorporated in a third space, the blend. In all the sections, I pursue three steps. First, I elaborate on the essence of the conceptual structure. Second, I touch upon its properties. Third, I present its patterns. For each conceptual structure, I devise exercises to validate its application. Section 5.3 summarizes the main points of the chapter.