Thinking across languages and cultures: six dimensions of variation

Title
Thinking across languages and cultures: six dimensions of variation
Publication Date
2003
Author(s)
Goddard, Cliff
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
De Gruyter Mouton
Place of publication
Germany
DOI
10.1515/cogl.2003.005
UNE publication id
une:1702
Abstract
This article surveys cross-linguistic variation in ways of talking about 'thinking'. It begins by summarizing research indicating that there is a universal semantic prime THINK which can provide a stable reference point for cross-linguistic comparison. Six different dimensions of variability are then canvassed: different patterns of lexical polysemy, different degrees and modes of lexical elaboration, different ethnotheories of the person, different ways in which think-related messages can be encoded morphosyntactically, different cultural scripts which may encourage or discourage particular ways of thinking, and differing patterns of usage in discourse. The article is framed within the natural semantic metalanguage theory.
Link
Citation
Cognitive Linguistics, 14(2-3), p. 109-140
ISSN
1861-048X
1613-3641
0936-5907
Start page
109
End page
140

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