认知理论指导下HEART的范畴化研究

毕 业 论 文题 目 认知理论指导下HEART的范畴化研究 姓 名 学 号 系 部 专业年级 指导教师 20 年 月 日 本科毕业论文诚信声明本人郑重声明：所呈交的本科毕业论文，是本人在指导老师的指导下，独立进行研究工作所取得的成果，成果不存在知识产权争议，除论文中已经注明引用的内容外，本论文不含任何其他个人或集体已经发表或撰写过的作品成果。对本论文的研究做出重要贡献的个人和集体均已在文中以明确方式标明。本人完全意识到本声明的法律结果由本人承担。 本科毕业论文作者签名： 年 月 日A Study on Categorization of HEART under the Guidance of Cognitive Theory THESISSubmitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements forThe degree of Bachelor of ArtsIn the Department of Foreign LanguagesSwan College of Central South University of Forestry and Technology ByTang XiaoweiSupervisor: Qin XianmeiMay 2014摘 要身体部位及器官是人类认知世界的基础。“心”是人体最重要的器官之一，在构造概念和理解事物的过程中有着重要的作用。本文在认知语言学理论的指导下，运用大量语料数据，主要研究了HEART的多义性。研究表明：“heart”一词词义经历了从基本词义到各常规词义扩大的过程。这是认知模式隐喻与转喻作用下的结果，同时也是人类认知从无到有，从少到多的体现。文章在讨论了HEART的词汇特征和词汇意义之后，阐释了HEART的词义变化是隐喻投射的结果，是意象图式转化的结果。总而言之，是词的范畴化扩大的结果。关键词： HEART； 语义分析； 范畴化； 意象图式； 隐喻投射。AbstractParts of human body and organs are the base for him to cognize the world. The heart is one of the most important parts of human body，which plays a pivotal role in constructing and understanding the concepts. Under the guidance of the theory of cognitive linguistics, this thesis, based on a great deal of linguistic data collected, mainly studies the various meanings of English word HEART, which is the process of extension from the basic to conventional meanings. The analysis indicates that the meaning of HEART increased gradually. This is also a justification of human beings cognitive ability from unknown domain to well-known domain. Besides, dealing with the lexical features and lexical meaning of HEART; the thesis also explains the change of lexical meaning of HEART is the result of metaphorical mapping, transformation of image schema. In a word, it is the result of extension of categorization.Keywords：HEART； semantic analysis； categorization； image schema；metaphorical mapping. ContentsIntroduction.11. HEART and Its Lexical Features11.1 Semantic Features of HEART11.1.1 Leechs classification of word meaning.11.1.2 Four Semantic Features of HEART.21.2. Lexical Meaning of HEART.42. Theoretical Framework.52.1 Categorization.52.1.1 Definition of Categorization.52.1.2 Classical categorization62.1.3 Cognitive view of categorization62.2 Image Schema72.2.1 Definition of Image Schema.72.2.2 Structure of Image Schema72.2.3 Transformation of Image Schema8 2.3 Metaphor Model9 2.3.1 Definition of Metaphor.92.3.2 Metaphorical Mapping.93. A Semantic Analysis of HEART from Cognitive Perspective.10 3.1 Categorization of Word Meaning of HEART.103.1.1 From Central Meaning of HEART to Character Category 103.1.2 From Central Meaning of HEART to Emotion Category.113.1.3 From Central Meaning of HEART to Thought Category.113.2 Change of Image Schema of HEARTAnother Kind of Change of Categorization.123.3 Metaphorical Mapping of HEART.133.3.1 Mapping from Body Domain to Non-body Domain.133.3.1.1 Mapping from Concrete Objects of HEART to Abstract Objects.133.3.1.2 Mapping from Abstract Concepts of HEART to Concrete Objects.143.3.2 Mapping from Non-body Domain to Body Domain.143.3.2.1 Mapping from Spatial Domain to Human HEART .143.3.2.2 Mapping from Entity Domains to Human HEART153.3.3 Mapping between Human HEART and Other Body Parts.16Conclusion.17Bibliography18Acknowledgements 19A Study on Categorization of HEART under the Guidance of Cognitive TheoryIntroductionCognitive Linguistics is a newly established approach to the study of language that emerged in the 1970s as a reaction against the dominant generative paradigm which pursues an autonomous view of language (Ruiz de Mendoza, 1997). It is based on human experiences of the world and the way they perceive and conceptualize the world (Ungerer & Schmid, 1996/2001). In recent years, with the development of cognitive linguistics, the semantic domains of body part, spatial locations, time, animals and color have become the central issues, since these domains are the basic ones other concepts rely on, and the things these domains denote are the most fundamental ones people can conceptualize. Category theory, one of the core theories of the cognitive linguistics, is of great importance to the cognitive study of the English vocabulary. Cognitive theory, especially category theory is a necessary preparation for the spirits of language learning. This paper, on the basis of the theory of cognitive linguistics, especially the category theory, mainly studies the categorization of word “HEART”. Through the analysis of hearts categorization under the guidance of cognitive theory, the thesis reveals the rules of vocabulary learning and helps English learners to master the meaning of words.1HEART and Its Semantic Features The recent cognitive theories provide the study of English words with a new approach. In this chapter, we will mainly discuss semantic features of HEART and its lexical meaning. 1.1 Semantic Features of HEARTIn dealing with semantic features of HEART, well first introduce Leechs seven types of word meaning and five lexical features of HEART.1.1.1 Leechs Classification of Word MeaningGeorge Leech in a more moderate tone recognizes seven types of meaning in his Semantics (p.23), first published in 1974. They are conceptual, connotative, social, affective, reflective, collocative and thematic meanings. Among them, connotative, social, affective, reflective and collocative meanings are called associative meaning.1. Conceptual meaningConceptual meaning, also called denotative or cognitive meaning, is the essential and inextricable part of what language is, and is widely regarded as the central factor in verbal communication. It is the logical, cognitive, or denotative content. It overlaps to a large extent with the notion of REFERENCE.2. Connotative meaningConnotative meaning is the communicative value that a word or a combination of words has by virtue of what it refers to, over and above its purely conceptual content.3. Social meaningSocial meaning is the meaning which an expression conveys about the context or social circumstance of its use.4. Affective meaningAffective or emotional meaning refers to the level of meaning that conveys the language users feelings, including his attitude or evaluation in shaping his use of language.5. Reflective meaningReflective meaning is the meaning which arises in cases of multiple conceptual meanings, when one sense of a word forms part of our response to another sense. It is the product of peoples recognition and imagination.6. Collocative meaningCollocative meaning refers to what is communicated through association with words which tend to occur in the environment of another word.7. Thematic meaningThematic meaning refers to what is communicated by the way in which the message is organized in terms of order and emphasis. It is the most peripheral meaning since it is determined only by the way words are ordered and the emphasis they each receive.1.1.2 Four Semantic Features of HEARTLanguage is characterized by objectivity, diachronic variability, synchronic polysemy, and cultural identity. These are the common semantic features of human language, on the basis of which, we have an analysis of the semantic features of the word HEART.1. ObjectivityMeaning of words originated from the objective world. The objective reality and its quality is the source and foundation of meaning of words, so meaning of words is objective. The objectivity of meaning of words can not only perform as a tool of communication and coordination between human beings, but also make language come down for generations with the help of character. The basic meaning of HEART is the organ in ones chest that pumps blood through ones veins and arteries. 2. Diachronic variabilityThe diachronic variability of meaning of words, on the one hand, originated from the continual change and development of the objective world. Meaning of words is based on the objective world, so every slight change of the objective world will be reflected in the meaning of words; on the other hand, its the change of subjective factor, such as during the process of cognizing the object, thought of cognitive subject is always from concrete to abstract, from the specific sensate features of matters to the abstract innate character of matters. Meaning of words, as a general reflection in the human brain of objective things, certainly presents diachronic evolution from concrete meaning to abstract meaning. The attribute of HEART, which is the most important status in a human body, can be mapped onto these abstract objects. Thus, it is understandable for people to use HEART to refer to the crucial part of some abstract objects such as the heart of a mystery, the heart of an article. HEART can also be used to refer to the center place in some areas, or refer to most influential and important part in some systems or organizations, for example, “Beijing is the political heart of our country”.3. Synchronic polysemyDue to various reasons, some of the meaning of words with diachronic variability will disappear. Those meaning of words does not disappear have been conventionalized as semantic system of synchronic language, which constitute the synchronic polysemy of the meaning of words. The more well-known concept, the more possible of it to extend meaning, that is transferred meaning. Therefore, we get the extended meaning of HEART in such expressions as: the heart of a city, the heart of a cabbage, the heart of a lamp, the heart of a river, etc.4. Cultural identity E. Spair (1921) pointed that the boundary between race and culture has corresponding tendency to the boundary between languages. There is of course no doubt that language has something to do with culture. Words and phrases can more or less reflect the culture it serves. The shape of HEART can be used as a playing card that is marked with a red heart. Besides, HEART can be referred to courage, such as “men of courage” can be replaced by “men of the heart”. It is said that when God gives his speech, is he speaks in his heart. Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable also said at one time moral courage was supposed to reside in the heart.Four semantic features of HEART reveal it is not only concerned with meanings of words as lexical items, but also with levels of language below the word and above it.1.2 Lexical Meaning of HEARTLexical meaning in terms of linguistics instead of lexicology is almost equal to referential (conceptual) meaning. It refers to “any aspect of meaning that is explained as part of a lexical entry for an individual unit.” Any word referring to substance, action, quality or state has its lexical meaning when it is used alone. A lexical meaning of a word can be found in dictionaries.According to the Oxford Advanced Learners English-Chinese Dictionary, Merriam-Websters Advanced Learners English Dictionary, the meanings of heart are mainly divided into following:1. The organ in your chest that pumps blood through your veins and arteries, usually on the left in humansoften used before another noun, e.g. He suffers from a heart condition.2. The front part of your chest, e.g. She clutched the child to her heart.3. The heart thought of as the place where emotions are felt, e.g. You shouldnt let your heart rule your head.4. Feelings of love of affection, e.g. Its best not to interfere in the matters of the heart.5. Having the type of character or personality mentioned (in adjectives), e.g. He is cold-hearted.6. The part that is in the center of something, e.g. Their offices are in the very heart of the city.7. The smaller leaves in the middle of a CABBAGE, LETTUCE, etc.8. Emotional strength that allows you to continue in a difficult situation, e.g. The team has shown a lot of heart.9. The most important part of something, e.g. The distinction between right and wrong lies at the heart of all questions of morality.10. A shape that looks like a simple drawing of a heart and that is used as a symbol of love and affection, .e.g. The child decorated the card with hearts and flowers.11. A playing card that is marked with a red heart, e.g. one heart, two diamonds, and two clubs.2Theoretical FrameworkIn order to do the research better, it is necessary to introduce some related cognitive theories, including categorization, image schema and metaphor.2.1 CategorizationIn this section, well discuss the definition of categorization, classical categorization, and cognitive view of categorization.2.1.1 Definition of CategorizationCategorization is the process of classifying our experiences into different categories based on commonalities and differences. Categorization is a major ingredient in the creation of human knowledge, and it allows us to relate present experiences to the past. Categorization occurs everywhere around us, without which a lot of information would be in disorder. In fact, people are able to divide the world into categories, and they can learn to distinguish between different categories such as CAR and BUS. For example, as college students, we may be classified as FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS or SENIORS. We can also be classified by our majors.2.1.2 Classical CategorizationThe classical theory of categorization can be traced back to Aristotle, and it is carried forward by structural and transformational linguistists. According to this theory, in the BIRD category, for example, if a creature has two wings, two legs, a beak, feathers and lays eggs (these are the necessary conditions), then it is a bird; on the other hand, if a creature has all these creatures, this is also sufficient for classifying it as a bird. This seems to tell us that categories are defined by a limited set of necessary and sufficient conditions (these conditions are regarded as features). In other words, a thing cannot both be and not be, it cannot both have a feature and not have it, it cannot both belong to a category and not belong to it. This is the first assumption of the classical theory; second, features are binary; third, categories have clear boundaries; forth, all members of a category have equal status. The classical theory has dominated for a long time, but it has also suffered from criticisms. Such a view of categorization is bound to run into difficulties when it is used to describe categories which have good and bad members and fuzzy boundaries. Things in the world are much more complex for a theory as neat as the classical theory. Certain things do not fall into clear-cut categories.2.1.3 Cognitive view of Categorization Categorization in cognitive linguistics differs radically from the classical Aristotelian model. Categorization is a central issue and fundamental concept in Cognitive Linguistics. Categorization has no clear boundaries. From Cognitive view, category is conceptualized as fuzzy category. In fact, the features of category are defined on the basis of humans interaction with physical world. Categorization is an advanced cognitive activity by which people classify the whole world. Humans conceptualizing competence and linguistic symbols are based upon categorization (赵艳芳, 2001). Categorization is the process of classifying our experiences into different categories based on commonalities and differences. According to cognitive linguistics, categorization consists of a prototype. Whether an object belongs to a category is not decided by the same properties, but by the family resemblance with prototype.Categorization is a major ingredient in the creation of human knowledge, and it allows us to relate present experience to the past ones.2.2 Image SchemaIn this section, we will discuss the definition of image schema, the structure of image schema and the transformation of image schema.2.2.1 Definition of Image SchemaAs Mark Johnson (1987:56) defines image schema, “An image schema is a recurring, dynamic pattern of our perceptual interactions and motor programs that gives coherence and structure to our experience”. It is the mapping from one cognitive domain to another cognitive domain by virtue of ones own existing knowledge structure in the course of peoples cognition of the world. It works as the organizational form of knowledge organizing our mental representation at a level of more general and abstract, and also as the institutional framework that gets in touch abstract relations to concrete images in human experience and understanding (Johnson, 1987:165-167). Thus, it is the fundamental structure and experience to understand and cognize the complicated concept, deriving from our everyday bodily interaction with the world.For Johnson (1987), image schemas play an important role in understanding the world and take things meaningful and reasonable. He also points out that image schemas are recurrent patterns that “emerge f