The Spatial Image - a Conceptual Analysis
Cognitive Linguistics
Dr. Beatrix Weber Professorship for English Linguistics SS 2012
The Spatial Schema
and its Figurative Meaning Extensions
A Conceptual Analysis
presented by Oliver Sicker
Date of Submission: Mat. Number: E-Mail:
01 November 2012 3203947 oliver.sicker@mailbox.tu-dresden.de
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ..................................................................................................2 2. Spatial Relations and their Metaphorical Meaning Extensions in the View of Cognitive Semantics ..................................................................2 3. Methodological Considerations .....................................................................4 4. Semantic and Conceptual Analysis of the Image Schema 4.1. Conceptual Analysis of the Spatial Meaning of 4.2. ....................5
..............................5
and Related Image Schemas in the Context of the Physical World ........................................................................................8
5. Conclusion ...................................................................................................14 6. Works Cited .................................................................................................16
1.
Introduction
It is quite remarkable that of the things that we talk or think about a considerable part has no actual existence. They are abstract concepts, ideas and notions, which have no physical substance and no shape, and can neither be seen nor felt. To be able to formulate them in speech and thought, we cognitively give them the form of physical objects, that morph and move and can be arranged in space. In that way, we can use words which are based on a physical world to express abstract thoughts. Through convention, concepts of the physicalspatial world are ascribed particular figurative meanings for their abstract usage. The image schema essentially describes a spatial orientation, but in
Dr. Beatrix Weber Professorship for English Linguistics SS 2012
The Spatial Schema
and its Figurative Meaning Extensions
A Conceptual Analysis
presented by Oliver Sicker
Date of Submission: Mat. Number: E-Mail:
01 November 2012 3203947 oliver.sicker@mailbox.tu-dresden.de
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ..................................................................................................2 2. Spatial Relations and their Metaphorical Meaning Extensions in the View of Cognitive Semantics ..................................................................2 3. Methodological Considerations .....................................................................4 4. Semantic and Conceptual Analysis of the Image Schema 4.1. Conceptual Analysis of the Spatial Meaning of 4.2. ....................5
..............................5
and Related Image Schemas in the Context of the Physical World ........................................................................................8
5. Conclusion ...................................................................................................14 6. Works Cited .................................................................................................16
1.
Introduction
It is quite remarkable that of the things that we talk or think about a considerable part has no actual existence. They are abstract concepts, ideas and notions, which have no physical substance and no shape, and can neither be seen nor felt. To be able to formulate them in speech and thought, we cognitively give them the form of physical objects, that morph and move and can be arranged in space. In that way, we can use words which are based on a physical world to express abstract thoughts. Through convention, concepts of the physicalspatial world are ascribed particular figurative meanings for their abstract usage. The image schema essentially describes a spatial orientation, but in
Cited: Boers, Frank. Spatial Prepositions and Metaphor / a Cognitive Semantic Journey Along the Up- Down and the Front- Back Dimensions. Narr, 1996. Print. Evans, Vyvyan. A Glossary of Cognitive Linguistics. Edinburgh University Press, 2007. Print. Johnson, Mark. The Body in the Mind: The Bodily Basis of Meaning, Reason and Imagination. University of Chicago Press, 1987. Print. Kovecses, Zoltan. Metaphor : A Practical Introduction. Oxford University Press, USA, 2010. Print. Lakoff, George, and Mark Johnson. Metaphors we Live by. Univ. of Chicago Press, 1980. Print. Schrödinger, Erwin. Was Ist Leben? / Die Lebende Zelle Mit Den Augen Des Physikers Betrachtet. Lehnen, 1951. Print. Taylor, John R. "Prepositions: Patterns of Polysemization and Strategies of Disambiguation." The Semantics of Prepositions. Ed. Cornelia Zelinsky-Wibbelt. 1st ed.Mouton de Gruyter, 1993. 151. Print. Zelinsky-Wibbelt, Cornelia (ed). The Semantics of Prepositions / from Mental Processing to Natural Language Processing. Mouton de Gruyter, 1993. Print. 16