English speakers use metaphorical constructions to express their Self-Awareness unconsciously all the time, yet we barely think about what underlies these constructions. What does the phrase “find oneself” mean for example? Does a person “find oneself” in the same way one finds a coin on the sidewalk?
Dr. Barry Grossman investigates the underlying conceptual commonality of these types of metaphorical phrases. It is the concept of Self-Awareness that these constructions have in common, not simply in reference to a speaker’s self-knowledge, but an acute meta-awareness of one’s state or situation. Self-Awareness turns out to be an image schema and numerous metaphors are construed and predicated with this as its base.
This book combines syntax and semantics, as well as cognitive linguistic theory and corpus linguistic analyses to approach a contentious issue raised in the past by many, but explained sufficiently by few. It studies the cognitive reality of perceptual Self-Awareness as an image schema used to drive metaphoric construal within the reflexive construction.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- PART I: SELF-AWARE EVENTS AND REFLEXIVES
- CHAPTER 1: A NEW BEGINNING
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 Lexical and Grammatical Definitions
- 1.2.1 Find x-self
- 1.2.2 Lose x-self
- 1.2.3 Catch x-self
- 1.3 Grammatical Definitions
- CHAPTER 2: VALENCY AND TRANSITIVITY
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 Other-directed vs. non-other-directed events
- 2.3 Valency & Transitivity
- 2.3.1 Valency
- 2.3.1.1 Valency and SA event verbs
- 2.3.2 Prototypical Transitive Events
- 2.4 The Transitive Middle
- 2.5 Chapter Conclusion
- CHAPTER 3: PART I CONCLUSIONS
- 3.1 Conclusions
- PART II: COGNITIVE LINGUISTIC ANALYSES
- CHAPTER 4: COGNITIVE LINGUISTICS AND SELF-AWARE REFLEXIVE METAPHORS
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Operational Definition of Self-Awareness
- 4.3 Definition and delineation of metaphor
- 4.4 Conceptual Metaphor
- 4.5 Schematicity and domains
- 4.6 Image Schema
- 4.7 Abstract Domains and Metaphor
- 4.8 Chapter Conclusion
- CHAPTER 5: COGNITIVE GRAMMAR
- 5.1 Introduction
- 5.2 Cognitive Grammar
- 5.2.1 Cognitive Grammar and find/lose
- 5.2.2 CG and Reflexive FIND and LOSE
- 5.3 Subjectivity and SA events
- 5.4 The Divided Self and SA Events
- 5.5 Mapping of Metonymy and SA events
- 5.6 Conceptual Metaphor and SA events
- 5.7 Categorizing SA events: metonymy and metaphor
- 5.8 Chapter Conclusion
- PART III: CORPUS LINGUISTICS AND SELF-AWARE EVENTS
- CHAPTER 6: CORPUS LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS
- 6.1 Introduction
- 6.2 Metaphor Identification Method
- 6.3 Corpus Research Method
- 6.4 Preliminary Corpus Analysis and Methodological Considerations
- 6.5 Results
- 6.6 Verbs of Self-Perception
- CHAPTER 7: SELF-AWARE EVENTS AND FIND X-SELF
- CHAPTER 8: LOSE X-SELF
- CHAPTER 9: CATCH X-SELF
- CHAPTER 10: DISCUSSION
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work aims to investigate the linguistic and cognitive aspects of self-awareness as expressed through reflexive constructions in English. It explores how self-awareness is represented through verbs like "find," "lose," and "catch" combined with reflexive pronouns ("x-self"). The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining lexical-grammatical analysis, cognitive linguistic frameworks, and corpus linguistic techniques.
- Lexical and grammatical analysis of self-aware events.
- Cognitive linguistic exploration of self-awareness metaphors.
- Corpus-based investigation of the usage patterns of reflexive constructions.
- Examination of the relationship between self-awareness, reflexivity, and transitivity.
- Analysis of metaphorical and metonymical representations of self-awareness.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
CHAPTER 1: A NEW BEGINNING: This introductory chapter lays the groundwork for the entire study. It establishes the core concept of "self-aware events" and defines the scope of the research. The chapter introduces the key verbs ("find," "lose," "catch") used in conjunction with reflexive pronouns ("x-self") to denote instances of self-awareness, providing both lexical and grammatical definitions. The groundwork laid in this chapter is crucial for understanding the subsequent analysis of these self-aware events across different theoretical frameworks.
CHAPTER 2: VALENCY AND TRANSITIVITY: This chapter delves into the grammatical properties of self-aware events, focusing on valency and transitivity. It distinguishes between other-directed and non-other-directed events, analyzing how these grammatical features impact the representation of self-awareness. The concept of the "transitive middle" is introduced to further elucidate the complexities of self-aware reflexive constructions. This chapter bridges the gap between the initial lexical definitions and the subsequent cognitive linguistic analyses.
CHAPTER 4: COGNITIVE LINGUISTICS AND SELF-AWARE REFLEXIVE METAPHORS: This chapter introduces the theoretical framework of Cognitive Linguistics to analyze self-aware events. It provides operational definitions of self-awareness and metaphor, exploring how conceptual metaphors are used to understand and express self-awareness. The chapter lays out the importance of image schemas and abstract domains in shaping our understanding of these experiences, serving as a crucial foundation for the subsequent cognitive grammar analysis.
CHAPTER 5: COGNITIVE GRAMMAR: Building on the previous chapter, this section applies the principles of Cognitive Grammar to examine reflexive constructions expressing self-awareness. The chapter explores the use of "find" and "lose" within this framework, analyzing how Cognitive Grammar can account for the nuances of subjectivity and the "divided self" within these events. The interplay between metonymy and metaphor in categorizing self-aware events is also discussed, solidifying the cognitive approach to the research question.
CHAPTER 6: CORPUS LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS: This chapter shifts to a corpus-based approach, outlining the methodology employed to identify and analyze instances of self-aware events in a large corpus of English text. It details the metaphor identification method and the specific corpus used. Preliminary analysis and methodological considerations are discussed, preparing the reader for the results presented in subsequent chapters. This empirical investigation serves as a vital validation of the theoretical frameworks established earlier.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Self-awareness, reflexive constructions, cognitive linguistics, corpus linguistics, metaphor, metonymy, valency, transitivity, find x-self, lose x-self, catch x-self, grammatical analysis, conceptual metaphor, image schema.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Self-Aware Events and Reflexives
What is the main topic of this language preview?
This preview covers a research study investigating the linguistic and cognitive aspects of self-awareness as expressed through reflexive constructions (like "find myself," "lose myself," "catch myself") in the English language.
What are the key methods used in this research?
The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining lexical-grammatical analysis, cognitive linguistic frameworks (including conceptual metaphor and image schema analysis), and corpus linguistic techniques.
What are the key verbs analyzed in this study?
The study focuses on the verbs "find," "lose," and "catch" when used with reflexive pronouns ("x-self," representing oneself) to express self-awareness. These are termed "self-aware events."
What is the structure of the research presented in this preview?
The preview is organized into three parts: Part I introduces self-aware events and reflexives, focusing on lexical and grammatical definitions and analysis of valency and transitivity. Part II delves into cognitive linguistic analyses, exploring conceptual metaphors and the application of Cognitive Grammar. Part III presents a corpus linguistic analysis of the usage patterns of these reflexive constructions.
What are the key themes explored in the research?
Key themes include the lexical and grammatical analysis of self-aware events; the cognitive linguistic exploration of self-awareness metaphors; the corpus-based investigation of reflexive construction usage; the relationship between self-awareness, reflexivity, and transitivity; and the analysis of metaphorical and metonymical representations of self-awareness.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the preview?
The preview includes summaries for key chapters, outlining the content and contribution of each. These summaries highlight the progression of the research from initial definitions to theoretical frameworks and empirical findings.
What is the significance of Cognitive Linguistics in this research?
Cognitive Linguistics provides the theoretical framework for understanding how self-awareness is conceptually represented through metaphor and image schemas. It helps explain the underlying cognitive processes involved in expressing self-awareness linguistically.
What is the role of Corpus Linguistics in this research?
Corpus Linguistics provides empirical data to support and validate the theoretical claims made. By analyzing a large corpus of English text, the research investigates the actual usage patterns of reflexive constructions related to self-awareness.
What are the key findings (as previewed)?
Specific findings are not detailed in this preview, but it outlines the methodology and planned analysis to investigate the usage of "find x-self," "lose x-self," and "catch x-self" in a corpus of English text.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include self-awareness, reflexive constructions, cognitive linguistics, corpus linguistics, metaphor, metonymy, valency, transitivity, find x-self, lose x-self, catch x-self, grammatical analysis, conceptual metaphor, and image schema.
- Quote paper
- Barry Grossman (Author), 2017, Metaphoric self-awareness in reflexive constructions, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/460986
