In this dissertation, I investigate the cognitive processes integral to intertextual readings by referring to the cognitive linguistics framework known as conceptual blending. I refer to different genres of intertextual texts and then explain these intertexts in terms of cognitive principles and processes, such as conceptual blending networks. By applying the framework of conceptual blending to intertexts within different genres, I suggest that the underlying cognitive processes are universal for the interpretation of any type of intertextual text. My findings indicate that conceptual blending underpins intertextuality which is cognitive, creative and dynamic in nature. This means that the meaning we construct from intertexts is dependent on the context in which they appear and cannot be studied in isolation. Investigating intertextual texts from a cognitive linguistics perspective reveals new inferences (such as the influence of implicit knowledge as a type of intertext) and the creativity involved in the meaning-making process. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Linguistics)

In this dissertation, I investigate whether the conceptualisation of computerised technological phenomena is influenced by social variables, in particular exposure to the computer. The conceptualisation and behaviour of a group of students majoring in technology-related fields were studied. Through the application of Conceptual Blending Theory, the multi-modal desktop metaphorical blend (DMMB) (as an electronic representation of an actual office desktop) was focused on. The participants were provided with tasks with the aim of determining whether they conceptualise the electronic desktop as a literal ‘thing-in-itself’ or as an e-version of their actual desks. The intent was to examine to what extent social variables, especially exposure, motivate the nature of the conceptualisation. Therefore, it is hypothesised that exposure, regarded as the primary variable in this study, influences conceptualisation of the DMMB to the extent where the it either loses its metaphoric quality in participants, who maintain regular and prolonged exposure to the computer, or retains the metaphoric quality of the DMMB in participants, who are not exposed to the computer on a regular and prolonged basis. Two groups were distinguished based on the extent of the individual participants’ exposure to computer technology, namely a high-exposure group and a low-exposure group. A mixed method approach was used to test and analyse data collected from individual participants, as well as from the high- and low-exposure groups. Methods used to test these hypotheses included questionnaires, word association (a conceptual task), controlled observation (a behavioural task), and interviews. The resulting data were analysed by means of a thematic interview analysis and non-parametric statistical tests. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Linguistics)

O problema norteador desta dissertação é: como indivíduos urbanos, rurais e rurbanos, da região de Caxias do Sul, estruturam a categoria VIOLÊNCIA, a partir de modelos cognitivos, os quais emergem do modo como esses indivíduos expressam linguisticamente suas experiências nesse domínio? O objetivo geral é o de investigar, no âmbito da Linguística Cognitiva (LC), especificamente da Semântica Cognitiva, quais processos e estruturas estão implicados na categorização de VIOLÊNCIA, a partir da análise de trechos de entrevistas realizadas com indivíduos urbanos, rurais e rurbanos da região de Caxias do Sul. A amostra é constituída de 20 entrevistas, a partir das quais é gerado o corpus para análise. As análises fundamentam-se na Teoria dos Modelos Cognitivos Idealizados (TMCI) e seus desdobramentos teóricos, com ênfase em modelos metafóricos e metonímicos. Esta investigação é particularmente relevante à medida que VIOLÊNCIA é um conceito abstrato complexo, cuja estruturação se encontra fortemente ligada a fatores cognitivos e socioculturais. O objetivo geral desdobra-se nos seguintes objetivos específicos: (a) identificar e analisar a estrutura da categoria VIOLÊNCIA em termos de mapeamentos metafóricos e metonímicos; e (b) discutir questões metodológicas atinentes à entrevista, avaliando sua adequação como o instrumento da pesquisa em LC. As hipóteses formuladas a partir do problema de pesquisa são: (1) modelos metafóricos, que estruturam a categoria, diferem entre sujeitos urbanos, rurais e rurbanos; (2) modelos metonímicos, que são culturalmente motivados, diferem entre sujeitos urbanos, rurais e rurbanos; (3) a entrevista individual, como inicialmente proposta, constitui-se como um ato de fala legítimo para análise em LC, à medida que um conjunto de requisitos técnico-procedimentais for atendido. A partir da análise do corpus, verifica-se que as hipóteses (1) e (2) não se confirmam completamente, uma vez que, apesar de se observarem, na amostra, ricos mapeamentos metafóricos e metonímicos, com maior ocorrência de modelos metonímicos, estes não diferem em função do critério de pertencimento a dada comunidade, mas sim em função da formação escolar. Entretanto, a verificação dessas hipóteses deve ainda merecer atenção em pesquisas posteriores com ampliação dessa amostra. A hipótese (3) é confirmada, à medida que os discursos gerados nesse tipo de evento de fala forneceram dados altamente relevantes para a investigação da estruturação da categoria VIOLÊNCIA, os quais podem ainda ser explorados em novas pesquisas que focalizem aspectos mais específicos de determinadas manifestações linguísticas. / Submitted by Marcelo Teixeira (mvteixeira@ucs.br) on 2014-06-03T17:56:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Morgana Larissa Sage.pdf: 1798515 bytes, checksum: 9a73e00b64d6f09041de41251e86a3cb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-03T17:56:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Morgana Larissa Sage.pdf: 1798515 bytes, checksum: 9a73e00b64d6f09041de41251e86a3cb (MD5) / The guiding problem of this dissertation is: how do urban, rural and rurban individuals of the region of Caxias do Sul structure the category VIOLENCE, on the basis of cognitive models, which emerge from the way these individuals express linguistically their experiences in this domain? The general objective is to investigate, in the field of Cognitive Linguistics (CL), Cognitive Semantics more specifically, which processes and structures are implied in the categorization of VIOLENCE from the analysis of parts of interviews carried out with urban, rural and rurban individuals of the region of Caxias do Sul. The sample is constituted by 20 interviews, which generates a corpus for analysis. The analyses are founded on the Theory of Idealized Cognitive Models (ICMT) and its theoretical consequences, with emphasis on metaphorical and metonymical models. This investigation is particularly relevant since VIOLENCE is a complex abstract concept, whose structuring is strongly connected to cognitive and sociocultural factors. The general objective is opened up in the following specific objectives: (a) to identify and analyze the structure of the category VIOLENCE in terms of metaphorical and metonymical mappings; and (b) to discuss methodological issues concerning the interview, thus evaluating its adequacy as a survey instrument in CL. Hypotheses formulated on the basis of the survey problem are: (1) metaphorical models structuring the category differ in urban, rural and rurban subjects; (2) metonymical models, which are culturally motivated, differ among urban, rural and rurban subjects; (3) the individual interview, as initially proposed, constitutes a legitimate speech act for analysis in CL as long as a set of technical-procedural requirements is met. After analyzing the corpus, it has been noticed that hypotheses (1) and (2) are not confirmed completely because, although the sample presents rich metaphorical and metonymical mappings, these do not differ due to the criterion of belonging to a certain community but rather due to schooling. However, the verification of these hypotheses should deserve further attention in later surveys, and with a larger sample size. Hypothesis (3) was confirmed, once the discourses generated in this type of speech event supplied highly relevant data to investigate the structuring of the category VIOLENCE, which can be still explored in new surveys focusing on more specific aspects of certain linguistic manifestations.

O problema norteador desta dissertação é: como indivíduos urbanos, rurais e rurbanos, da região de Caxias do Sul, estruturam a categoria VIOLÊNCIA, a partir de modelos cognitivos, os quais emergem do modo como esses indivíduos expressam linguisticamente suas experiências nesse domínio? O objetivo geral é o de investigar, no âmbito da Linguística Cognitiva (LC), especificamente da Semântica Cognitiva, quais processos e estruturas estão implicados na categorização de VIOLÊNCIA, a partir da análise de trechos de entrevistas realizadas com indivíduos urbanos, rurais e rurbanos da região de Caxias do Sul. A amostra é constituída de 20 entrevistas, a partir das quais é gerado o corpus para análise. As análises fundamentam-se na Teoria dos Modelos Cognitivos Idealizados (TMCI) e seus desdobramentos teóricos, com ênfase em modelos metafóricos e metonímicos. Esta investigação é particularmente relevante à medida que VIOLÊNCIA é um conceito abstrato complexo, cuja estruturação se encontra fortemente ligada a fatores cognitivos e socioculturais. O objetivo geral desdobra-se nos seguintes objetivos específicos: (a) identificar e analisar a estrutura da categoria VIOLÊNCIA em termos de mapeamentos metafóricos e metonímicos; e (b) discutir questões metodológicas atinentes à entrevista, avaliando sua adequação como o instrumento da pesquisa em LC. As hipóteses formuladas a partir do problema de pesquisa são: (1) modelos metafóricos, que estruturam a categoria, diferem entre sujeitos urbanos, rurais e rurbanos; (2) modelos metonímicos, que são culturalmente motivados, diferem entre sujeitos urbanos, rurais e rurbanos; (3) a entrevista individual, como inicialmente proposta, constitui-se como um ato de fala legítimo para análise em LC, à medida que um conjunto de requisitos técnico-procedimentais for atendido. A partir da análise do corpus, verifica-se que as hipóteses (1) e (2) não se confirmam completamente, uma vez que, apesar de se observarem, na amostra, ricos mapeamentos metafóricos e metonímicos, com maior ocorrência de modelos metonímicos, estes não diferem em função do critério de pertencimento a dada comunidade, mas sim em função da formação escolar. Entretanto, a verificação dessas hipóteses deve ainda merecer atenção em pesquisas posteriores com ampliação dessa amostra. A hipótese (3) é confirmada, à medida que os discursos gerados nesse tipo de evento de fala forneceram dados altamente relevantes para a investigação da estruturação da categoria VIOLÊNCIA, os quais podem ainda ser explorados em novas pesquisas que focalizem aspectos mais específicos de determinadas manifestações linguísticas. / The guiding problem of this dissertation is: how do urban, rural and rurban individuals of the region of Caxias do Sul structure the category VIOLENCE, on the basis of cognitive models, which emerge from the way these individuals express linguistically their experiences in this domain? The general objective is to investigate, in the field of Cognitive Linguistics (CL), Cognitive Semantics more specifically, which processes and structures are implied in the categorization of VIOLENCE from the analysis of parts of interviews carried out with urban, rural and rurban individuals of the region of Caxias do Sul. The sample is constituted by 20 interviews, which generates a corpus for analysis. The analyses are founded on the Theory of Idealized Cognitive Models (ICMT) and its theoretical consequences, with emphasis on metaphorical and metonymical models. This investigation is particularly relevant since VIOLENCE is a complex abstract concept, whose structuring is strongly connected to cognitive and sociocultural factors. The general objective is opened up in the following specific objectives: (a) to identify and analyze the structure of the category VIOLENCE in terms of metaphorical and metonymical mappings; and (b) to discuss methodological issues concerning the interview, thus evaluating its adequacy as a survey instrument in CL. Hypotheses formulated on the basis of the survey problem are: (1) metaphorical models structuring the category differ in urban, rural and rurban subjects; (2) metonymical models, which are culturally motivated, differ among urban, rural and rurban subjects; (3) the individual interview, as initially proposed, constitutes a legitimate speech act for analysis in CL as long as a set of technical-procedural requirements is met. After analyzing the corpus, it has been noticed that hypotheses (1) and (2) are not confirmed completely because, although the sample presents rich metaphorical and metonymical mappings, these do not differ due to the criterion of belonging to a certain community but rather due to schooling. However, the verification of these hypotheses should deserve further attention in later surveys, and with a larger sample size. Hypothesis (3) was confirmed, once the discourses generated in this type of speech event supplied highly relevant data to investigate the structuring of the category VIOLENCE, which can be still explored in new surveys focusing on more specific aspects of certain linguistic manifestations.

Depuis plusieurs décennies, un nombre important de travaux en linguistique et sciences cognitives avancent une thèse selon laquelle l’expression du temps dans la langue dépend de la cognition de l’espace. Cette étude cherche à établir que le discours scientifique sur les rapports temps–espace dans la langue et la cognition est un objet épistémologique qui a sa propre histoire et ses propres motivations disciplinaires. Ainsi, le programme de recherche généralement admis est le produit d’une trame complexe d’intérêts qui ne favorisent pas nécessairement la recherche de l’objet scientifique. Dans une première partie, nous confirmons que les rapports linguistiques entre temps et espace constituent un objet historique et variable, tant dans la langue que dans la pensée sur la langue. Dans une deuxième partie, nous explorons la tendance à la spatialisation du temps dans les écrits des philosophes et grammairiens des Lumières et dans le travail de Gustave Guillaume (1883–1960). Dans une troisième partie, nous examinons le paradigme de la priorité spatiale dans la linguistique cognitive à partir des années 1970 jusqu’à nos jours. Les résultats de cette étude nous amènent à proposer des lignes directrices pour la recherche future des manifestations linguistiques des rapports temps–espace. / Over the past few decades, a considerable number of studies in linguistics and the cognitive sciences have put forward the claim that the expression of time in language relies on the cognition of space. This study aims to show that the scientific discourse on time–space relations in language and cognition is an epistemological object, shaped by its history and disciplinary motivations. Thus, the predominant research framework of time–space relations is the product of an intricate network of interests which do not necessarily facilitate the research of the scientific object. In the first part of the study we show that relations between time and space changed through the history of both language and the theory of language. In the second part, we explore the theoretical trend of the spatialization of time in the writings of key philosophers and grammarians of the Enlightenment, and in the oeuvre of the French linguist Gustave Guillaume (1883-1960). In the third part we examine the paradigm of spatial priority in cognitive linguistics from the 1970s until today. The conclusions of the study lead us to put forth some proposals for the future research of time, space and the time–space interface in language.

This thesis belongs to the research tradition of Romance historical semantics, and combines diachronic methods with cognitive hypotheses. Analysing complex adpositions in French and Italian, its originality resides in the fact that, both for literal and metaphorical uses, it applies a functional approach to a diachronic problematic, carrying out a corpus analysis.<p>The period covered consists of four hundred years (from the 16th until the end of the 19th Century). The constructions under analysis conform to the pattern [PREP1 (+ article) + travers(o) (+ PREP2)], viz. the French expressions 'à travers (de)', 'au travers (de)', 'en travers (de)', 'de travers' and their Italian formal equivalents 'a traverso/at(t)raverso (a, di, per)', 'al traverso (di)', 'in traverso (di)' and 'di traverso (a)' ('traverso (a)', without PREP1, is included too). These expressions, and especially their prepositional uses, are assumed to be intrinsically dynamic. However, they are no pure prepositions, in that all of them can be used in at least two different syntactic roles. More specifically, some are principally found as a preposition, and secondarily as an adverb; others behave mostly as an adverb, but also as an adjective; finally, certain expressions exhibit all three types of uses.<p>The results can be structured around four axes. Firstly, a complete diachronic-semantic description of all uses is given of this set of hardly explored expressions, in order to contribute to a better comprehension of their semantic structure. The study bears on morphological, syntactic, but most of all semantic aspects of the evolutions observed. Secondly, functional concepts such as Guidance, proposed in synchronic research (in particular by Stosic (2002b; 2007; 2009)), and notions we elaborate on the basis of research on Modern French (cf. Somers 1988; and Plungian 2002), in particular Contrast and Deviation, are put to the test. By adopting a diachronic perspective, we assess to what extent these notions are able to describe the semantics conveyed in the past by the expressions under study. Thirdly, this thesis determines in what measure the expressions analysed were subjected to a grammaticalisation process, and why some of them (in particular 'à travers', and, to a lesser extent, 'a traverso/at(t)raverso (a, di, per)') became significantly more frequent from the 18th Century onwards. We provide elements that point to a more advanced grammaticalisation for certain expressions. Moreover, we determine to what extent the evolutionary trends observed corroborate or, on the contrary, disconfirm various mechanisms considered to be part of the process of grammaticalisation. Finally, a comparison between the evolutions in the two languages under study helps to distinguish between more general and language-specific mechanisms of semantic and grammatical evolution, given that every natural language has a specific way of organising its own modelling of space.<p>The results of this study enrich our knowledge of the phrases studied and their functioning in the past, but also in present-day French and Italian, providing diachronic observations regarding the functional notions put to the test. Further, it contributes to a better understanding of the grammaticalisation mechanisms of complex constructions. Finally, it shows that typologically related languages may evolve differently in their ways of representing space, and in particular in their semantic distribution of various functional concepts within a group of close constructions./Cette thèse s’inscrit dans le domaine de la sémantique historique romane, et combine des méthodes diachroniques avec des hypothèses cognitives. En analysant des adpositions complexes en français et en italien, son originalité réside dans le fait que, à la fois pour des usages littéraux et métaphoriques, elle applique une approche fonctionnelle à une problématique diachronique, en réalisant une analyse de corpus.<p>La période traitée est constituée de quatre cents ans (à partir du XVIe jusqu’à la fin du XIXe siècle). Les constructions analysées sont conformes au modèle [PREP1 (+ article) + travers(o) (+ PREP2)], à savoir les expressions françaises 'à travers (de)', 'au travers (de)', 'en travers (de)', 'de travers' et leurs équivalentes formelles italiennes 'a traverso/at(t)raverso (a, di, per)', 'al traverso (di)', 'in traverso (di)' et 'di traverso (a)' ('traverso (a)', sans PREP1, est aussi incluse). Ces expressions, et surtout leurs usages prépositionnels, sont supposées être intrinsèquement dynamiques. Cependant, elles ne sont pas de pures prépositions, en ce que chacune d’elles peut être utilisée dans au moins deux rôles syntaxiques différentes. Plus précisément, certaines se rencontrent principalement comme préposition, et accessoirement comme adverbe ;d’autres se comportent la plupart du temps comme adverbe, mais aussi comme adjectif ;enfin, certaines expressions présentent les trois types d’usages.<p>Les résultats s’articulent autour de quatre axes. Tout d’abord, une description diachronique et sémantique complète est donnée de tous les usages de l’ensemble de ces expressions qui sont à peine explorées, afin de contribuer à une meilleure compréhension de leur structure sémantique. L’étude porte sur des aspects morphologiques, syntaxiques, mais surtout sémantiques des évolutions observées. Deuxièmement, des concepts fonctionnels tels que celui de Guidage, proposé dans des travaux en synchronie (en particulier par Stosic (2002b; 2007; 2009)), et des notions que nous élaborons sur la base d’analyses du français moderne (cf. Somers 1988; et Plungian 2002), en particulier celles de Contraste et Déviation, sont mises à l’épreuve. En adoptant une perspective diachronique, nous évaluons dans quelle mesure ces notions sont en mesure de décrire la sémantique véhiculée dans le passé par les expressions étudiées. Troisièmement, cette thèse détermine dans quelle mesure les expressions analysées ont été soumises à un processus de grammaticalisation, et pourquoi certaines d’entre elles (en particulier 'à travers' et, dans une moindre mesure, 'a traverso/at(t)raverso (a, di, per)') sont devenues beaucoup plus fréquentes à partir du XVIIIe siècle. Nous fournissons des éléments qui indiquent une grammaticalisation plus avancée de certaines expressions. De plus, nous déterminons dans quelle mesure les tendances évolutives observées corroborent ou, au contraire, infirment différents mécanismes considérés comme faisant partie du processus de grammaticalisation. Enfin, une comparaison entre les évolutions dans les deux langues étudiées permet de distinguer des tendances sémantiques et grammaticales plus générales de ceux qui sont plus spécifiques à une langue, étant donné que chaque langue naturelle a une façon spécifique d’organiser sa représentation de l’espace.<p>En fournissant des observations diachroniques sur les notions fonctionnelles mises à l’épreuve, cette thèse enrichit notre connaissance des constructions étudiées et leur fonctionnement dans le passé, ce qui aide aussi à mieux comprendre leur usage contemporain. De plus, elle contribue à une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes de grammaticalisation des constructions complexes. Enfin, elle montre que des langues typologiquement proches peuvent évoluer différemment dans leurs modes de représentation de l’espace, et en particulier dans la distribution sémantique de différents concepts fonctionnels dans un groupe de constructions proches.<p><p> / Doctorat en Langues et lettres / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Text in Afrikaans, abstracts in Afrikaans and English / This is a study of the broad scope of cognition verbs in Afrikaans. Firstly, the nonmetaphorical cognition verbs [e.g. ken (= know), weet (= know), dink (= think), verstaan (= understand)] are discussed and then the metaphorical cognition verbs which are subcategorized in metaphorical verbs of vision [kyk (= look), sien (= see)] and metaphorical manipulation verbs [vorm (= form), gryp (= grab), voel (= feel), vat (= take) etc.]. The study is embedded in the cognitive linguistic stance of embodiment which inter alia implies that our neurological functioning is based on feeling (which includes our sense of touch), and that the way our bodies are structured also determines the way we express our thoughts. This extensive descriptive study of Afrikaans cognition verbs, metaphorical and nonmetaphorical, indicates that visual lexemes in Afrikaans express subtle abstract thought, while manipulation lexemes express less subtle, yet still abstract result-driven thought. Synthesis is an important factor in this study because the non-metaphorical cognition verbs as well as the metaphorical cognition verbs are linked to the basic cognitive principle of embodiment. Also, the two metaphorical verb types can by seen in synthesis when the stage frame ( = vision) and the workshop frame ( = manipulation) are merged. The synthesis of the stage frame and the workshop frame eventually provides us with another perspective, namely that vision and manipulation (which includes touch and feeling) are in a state of interacting nurturing symbiosis. / In hierdie studie word die breë kader van Afrikaanse kognisiewerkwoorde ondersoek. Eers kom die nie-metaforiese kognisiewerkwoorde (ken, weet, dink, verstaan) onder die vergrootglas, en daarna die metaforiese kognisiewerkwoorde wat gesubkategoriseer word in visueel-metaforiese werkwoorde (kyk, sien ens.) en manipulatief-metaforiese werkwoorde (vorm, gryp, voel, vat ens.). Hierdie studie is ingebed binne die kognitieflinguistiese uitgangspunt van beliggaamdheid wat onder andere behels dat ons neurologiese funksionering sterk gevoelsgefundeerd (o.m. op tassintuiglike vlak) is, maar ook dat ons liggaamlike gestruktureerdheid 'n rol speel by die uitdrukking van denke. Die uitvoerige deskriptiewe studie van Afrikaanse kognisiewerkwoorde, metafories en nie-metafories, dui aan dat visuele lekseme in Afrikaans vir fyn abstrakte denke gebruik word, terwyl manipulasielekseme vir minder fyn, maar steeds abstrakte resultaatgedrewe denke gebruik word. Sintesevorming speel 'n belangrike rol in hierdie studie in dié sin dat die nie-metaforiese kognisiewerkwoorde sowel as die metaforiese kognisiewerkwoorde tot die basiese kognitiewe uitgangspunt van beliggaamdheid teruggevoer kan word. Ook wat die twee metaforiese werkwoordtipes betref, kan daar 'n sintese gevorm word indien die verhoograam (= visie) sáám met die werkswinkelraam (= manipulasie) beskou word. Die samevoeging van die verhoograam met die werkswinkelraam bied uiteindelik nog 'n perspektief, naamlik dat visie en manipulasie (waarby tassintuiglike gevoel ingesluit is) simbioties en voedend op mekaar inwerk. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / D. Litt. et Phil (Linguistics)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Sin duda la lectura tiene un papel importante en el aula de segunda lengua. No solo es una manera efectiva de adquirir vocabulario y gramática sino también es un buen instrumento para presentar la cultura de la lengua meta. Por lo tanto, es necesario que los estudiantes puedan leer bien. No obstante, los problemas de comprensión surgen cuando a los estudiantes les falta competencia lingüística o conocimiento previo o, las diferencias en las aptitudes de leer, varían en cada estudiante. Entonces es importante que los maestros les den a los estudiantes los instrumentos que les permitan acceder a las estrategias de comprensión. La meta de este trabajo es probar que entre más conciencia metacognitiva tenga un estudiante de segunda lengua, mejor será su comprensión del texto. En general, los maestros de segunda lengua entienden la importancia del conocimiento de vocabulario y gramática en cuanto al éxito de lectura, pero quizás no se dan cuenta de que la conciencia metacognitiva tiene un papel igualmente importante. Por ello, este trabajo es tanto para los maestros que no están familiarizados con la instrucción de las estrategias de la comprensión de lectura como para los que dudan del valor en el currículo, ya lleno de lecciones y ejercicios comunicativos.