Verbal explication and the place of NSM semantics in cognitive linguistics

Title
Verbal explication and the place of NSM semantics in cognitive linguistics
Publication Date
2006
Author(s)
Goddard, Cliff
Editor
Editor(s): June Luchjenbroers
Type of document
Book Chapter
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
John Benjamins Publishing Company
Place of publication
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Edition
1
Series
Human cognitive processing
UNE publication id
une:2224
Abstract
This paper argues that verbal explication has an indispensable role to play in semantic/conceptual representation. Cognitive linguistic diagrams are not semiotically self-contained and cannot be interpreted without overt or covert verbal support. Many also depend on culture-specific iconography. When verbal representation is employed in mainstream cognitive linguistics, as in work on prototypes, cultural models and conceptual metaphor, this is typically done in an under-theorised fashion without adequate attention to the complexity and culture-specificity of the representation. Abstract culture-laden vocabulary also demands a rich propositional style of representation, as shown with contrastive examples from Malay, Japanese and English. As the only stream of cognitive linguistics with a well-theorised and empirically grounded approach to verbal explication, the NSM (natural semantic metalanguage) framework has much to offer cognitive linguistics at large.
Link
Citation
Cognitive Linguistics Investigations: Across languages, fields, and philosophical boundaries, v.15, p. 189-218
ISBN
9027223688
Start page
189
End page
218

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