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.
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
7.1. Find x-self
7.2. Subtleties in the Corpus Data
7.3. Results for [FIND X-SELF]
7.4. Results for [PRO + FIND + X-SELF]
7.4.1. Fuzzy construals within [p*][find][ppx*]
7.4.2. More about the FoA
7.5. Nouns as Antecedents: [n*][find][ppx*]
7.5.1. Nouns as Antecedents: sorted by ‘word’
7.5.2. Fuzzy construals for [n*][find][ppx*]
7.6. Discussion
CHAPTER 8: LOSE X-SELF
8.1. Introduction
8.2. Method
8.2.1. Complexities and Subtleties
8.3. Results: find and lose
8.4. [p*][lose][ppx*]: pronoun antecedents
8.4.1. Fuzzy construals with [p*][lose][ppx*]
8.5. [n*][lose][ppx*]: Nouns as antecedents for lose x-self
8.5.1. Fuzzy construals for [n*][lose][ppx*]
8.6. Compound Examples of Finding and Losing
CHAPTER 9: CATCH X-SELF
9.1. Introduction
9.2. Method
9.2.1. Categorization Results
9.2.2. Onset of Awareness
9.2.3. Causative-type force
9.3. Results
9.3.1. Results for [p*][catch][ppx*]
9.4. [n*][catch][ppx*]
9.5. Fuzzy and other examples
9.6. Compound FIND/CATCH x-self
9.7. Chapter Conclusion
CHAPTER 10: DISCUSSION
10.1. Introduction
10.2. Comparative analyses of SA verbs + x-self
10.3. find x-self and lose x-self; Opposites or Not?
10.4. perceive x-self
10.5. Other reflexive constructions
CHAPTER 11. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Themes
This work investigates the linguistic phenomenon of "Self-Aware" (SA) events in English, specifically looking at reflexive constructions featuring the verbs find, lose, and catch. The primary research question centers on how "Self-Awareness"—defined as a meta-perceptive state—is expressed and categorized through metaphorical reflexive constructions, and whether these constructions can be systematically delineated using Cognitive Linguistics and corpus-based methodology.
- The semantics of reflexive constructions and the concept of Self-Awareness.
- Application of Cognitive Grammar and Conceptual Metaphor Theory to SA events.
- Development of an objective, corpus-based identification method for metaphor.
- Empirical analysis of the frequency, collocations, and register-specific patterns of SA events.
- Evaluation of the "Divided Self" vs. "Self-Aware" metaphorical frameworks in linguistic usage.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Introduction
Dave Dahl, the owner and creator of Dave’s Killer Bread, spent some time in prison where he did a fair amount of self-contemplation. In the quotation below, taken from the bread package label, Dave uses reflexive pronouns to convey his introspection and the insights he’s gained from it.
…15 years in prison is a pretty tough way to find oneself, but I have no regrets. This time around, I took advantage of all those long and lonely days by practicing my guitar, exercising, and getting to know myself - without drugs... It’s been said adversity introduces a man to himself and I found this to be true... A whole lot of suffering has transformed an ex-con into an honest man who is doing his best to make the world a better place… One loaf of bread at a time (Dave Dahl, label on “Dave’s Killer Bread”).
What does the phrase find oneself mean and how do we know this? Does a person find oneself in the same way one finds a coin on the sidewalk? Why is the metaphor of find used and not some other verb, as in the next sentence, …getting to know myself, an expression famously used by Socrates for introspection, “Oh man, know thyself and thou shall know the Universe of the Gods!” Furthermore, the abstract noun adversity in the final example takes the place of a human agent that can perform introductions, i.e., introduce a man to himself. This phrase is used metaphorically, but how do the individual components of the phrase allow for a Self-Aware meaning? Does the meaning of found in the conjoined clause in line four have the same meaning as find in line one?
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER 1: A NEW BEGINNING: This chapter introduces the core concept of Self-Awareness in reflexive constructions and explores the linguistic challenges in defining verbs like find, lose, and catch.
CHAPTER 2: VALENCY AND TRANSITIVITY: An investigation into how semantic notions of valency and transitivity gradients clarify why speakers choose reflexive strategies for Self-Awareness.
CHAPTER 3: PART I CONCLUSIONS: A synthesis of the theoretical findings regarding the semantic subcategory of SA events.
CHAPTER 4: COGNITIVE LINGUISTICS AND SELF-AWARE REFLEXIVE METAPHORS: The chapter sets the cognitive linguistic framework, utilizing image schemas and domains to analyze Self-Awareness.
CHAPTER 5: COGNITIVE GRAMMAR: Explores how Cognitive Grammar models account for the subjective and metaphorical mappings involved in reflexive constructions.
CHAPTER 6: CORPUS LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS: Describes the methodology for identifying metaphors within a corpus and sets the stage for the empirical study.
CHAPTER 7: SELF-AWARE EVENTS AND FIND X-SELF: Provides a deep empirical analysis of find x-self, revealing high frequencies of "Self-Aware" and "Self-Aware Unexpected" event types.
CHAPTER 8: LOSE X-SELF: Compares the usage of lose x-self with find x-self, finding unique categorical distributions focused on the temporary loss of self-awareness.
CHAPTER 9: CATCH X-SELF: Examines catch x-self, focusing on the added semantic entailment of suddenness and internal interruption.
CHAPTER 10: DISCUSSION: Compares findings across all verbs, addresses the "opposites" debate between find and lose, and discusses the role of perceive x-self.
CHAPTER 11. CONCLUSION: Offers final reflections on the linguistic reality of SA events and outlines potential future avenues, including neurolinguistic research.
Keywords
Self-Awareness, Reflexive Constructions, Cognitive Linguistics, Corpus Linguistics, Conceptual Metaphor, Valency, Transitivity, Cognitive Grammar, Metonymy, Find x-self, Lose x-self, Catch x-self, Image Schema, Psychodynamics, Semantic Construal
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this linguistic research?
The work investigates "Self-Aware" (SA) events, where reflexive constructions with verbs like "find," "lose," or "catch" are used metaphorically to describe a state of meta-perceptive awareness rather than literal reflexive action.
What are the main thematic areas?
The research bridges cognitive linguistics and corpus-based analysis. It covers conceptual metaphor, the nature of selfhood in language, transitivity gradients, and the practical application of Metaphor Identification Procedures (MIP) on large-scale text data.
What is the central research question?
The study aims to determine how Self-Awareness is expressed through reflexive-metaphorical constructions and whether these events can be semantically delineated and categorized.
Which linguistic methods are employed?
The author uses a "quasi-corpus-driven" approach, integrating cognitive theories (Cognitive Grammar, Image Schemas) with statistical corpus analysis of the British National Corpus (BNC) and the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA).
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main sections categorize reflexive events into groups like "Self-Aware Events" (SA), "Self-Aware Unexpected Events" (SA-UE), "True-Self Metaphors" (TSM), and "Picture Noun Schemas" (PNS), supported by extensive corpus examples.
How are SA events characterized?
They are characterized by the emergence or loss of awareness of one's own perceptions, often using metonymic mappings where the whole person represents a specific mental state of awareness.
Does "find oneself" always mean the same thing?
No, the study demonstrates that "find oneself" is polysemous. It can refer to a sudden awareness of an internal state, an unexpected external situation, or a realization of a "True Self," depending on the context.
Why is the "Divided Self" metaphor insufficient for SA events?
The author argues that while the "Divided Self" covers psychodynamic scenarios, it fails to explain the majority of SA events, which are more accurately described as an emergent cognitive function rather than a struggle between two parts of the psyche.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Barry Grossman (Autor:in), 2017, Metaphoric self-awareness in reflexive constructions, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/460986
