Cognitive Metaphor and Discourse: Research Methods and Paradigms

The article dwells on a modern cognitive and discourse study of metaphors. Taking the advantage of the analysis and fusion of information in foreign and domestic papers, the researcher delves into their classification from the ontological, axiological and epistemological points of view. The ontological level breaks down into two basic approaches, namely metaphorical nature of discourse and discursive nature of metaphors. The former analyses metaphors to fathom characteristics of discourse, while the other provides for the study of metaphorical features in the context of discursive communication. The axiological aspect covers critical and descriptive studies and the epistemological angle comprises quantitive and qualitative methods in metaphorical studies. Other issues covered in the paper incorporate a thorough review of methods for identification of metaphors to include computer-assisted solutions (Word Sense Disambiguation, Categorisation, Metaphor Clusters) and numerical analysis of the metaphorical nature of discourse – descriptor analysis, metaphor power index, cluster analysis, and complex metaphor power analysis. On the one hand, the conceptualization of research papers boils down to major features of the discursive approach to metaphors and on the other, multiple studies of metaphors in the context of discourse pave the way for a discursive trend in cognitive metaphorology.

ONOMASTIC METAPHOR IN THE ORIGINAL AND TRANSLATION

The authors of the article discuss the problem of translating an onomastic metaphor in humorous discourse, relying on the results of research in the field of proper name theory, cognitive metaphor theory, comic theory, discourse theory, and the theory of harmonious translation space, which are the research methodology. The purpose of the work is to show that the metaphorical onym, as a complex dynamic transformation of a proper name-anthroponym, has a high cultural potential, and in humorous discourse acquires a pragmatic humorous effect, reflecting the author's intention. The material of the work was the literary texts of A.P. Chekhov in Russian and their translations into Chinese, as well as literary texts in English by P.G. Woodhouse and their translations into Russian and Chinese. The choice of these authors is due to their belonging to the same historical era - the beginning of the twentieth century. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that the semantics of Chinese anthroponyms differs significantly from the semantics of English and Russian-language proper names-anthroponyms, which should be known and taken into account by the translator in the process of translating metaphorical meanings into Chinese in order to ensure mutual understanding of representatives of different linguistic cultures. Translations into Chinese are ongoing. Linguistic and translation analysis consists in identifying the level of harmony of translations of an onomastic metaphor, correlated with the nature of the reconstruction of metaphorical meanings and the humorous effect of the original. Such a translation is recognized as harmonious, in which there is a remetaphorization of the onomastic metaphor, accompanied by synergy - an increment of new meanings acceptable to the host culture.

Place Names in Ekegusii Language: A Cognitive Linguistics Approach

This paper analyses place names in the Ekegusii language from the cognitive linguistics point of view. The study is grounded on three objectives: to identify and explain the Ekegusii names of places, to describe the social cultural values, and to account for the cognitive processes involved in their mapping, analysis and elucidation. The data comprises of a list of Ekegusii place names collected from two counties, Kisii and Nyamira, by interviewing people through snowballing, and later holding a panel discussion with selected elders regarding the mapping processes and meanings associated with them. The Cognitive Metaphor Theory was used to map them to the different types of conceptual domains. Findings from this study show that place names in Ekegusii are conceptualized as seasons, topography, people, animals, plants and objects (as source domains which are social-culturally determined), and portray their cultural identity and tradition. The study concludes by suggesting further research in onomastics, especially on metaphor and metonymy in other languages of the world.

Metaphorisation and Metonimisation as Tools of Semantic Derivation (Based on English Coursebooks on Economics)

The paper studies two types of indirect (secondary) nomination: simulative and indicative ones, exemplified by extracts from English coursebooks on economics. The similative nomination is actualised through functional transfer, which is interpreted as a separate kind of metaphor termed “actional metaphor”. The analysis of indicative nomination is focused on metonymy and synecdoche (as its closely related device), which is conditioned by the same transfer principle on the basis of an essential attribute. The semantic derivates are considered in sentences representing such logic thought form as definition, which allows to reveal the metaphoric and metonymic processes in the field of English economic terminology.The research discloses the interrelations between the analysed term models and their functions as designators for target and source domains on the one hand, and cognitive metaphor types (ontological and conceptual), on the other hand. The author comes to the conclusion that both types can have either simple or complicated structure. Similarly, there are simple and complicated metonymies. These phenomena make the peculiarities of the given economic discourse when considered from the angle of semantic derivation. The tendency to the uniform secondary semiotic code in term metaphor description can be viewed as another valid peculiarity of economic discourse.With regard to the indicative secondary nomination, the main findings are as follows: the metonymic lexis is organized as a chain opposition: terms and nomens – terms – terms and common lexis – common lexis. The mechanism of forming “mixed” kinds of the indirect nomination, i.e. metaphtonymy and synecdoche-metonymy, is revealed in the course of the context analysis. This leads the author to a hypothetical argument that it is the actional metaphor that underlies these mixed types of semantic derivatives.Both types of the secondary nomination have a systemic nature: metaphor is described in other system units; metonymies have field structure and are actualised through specific oppositions.

Cognitive-Discursive Study of Migration Discourse (Based on English-Language Media Texts)

Introduction. This article is a fragment of a study on migration discourse. The migration discourse uses a persuasive strategy implemented by means of evaluation information strategy. Evaluation information strategy is carried out mainly through persuasive tactics, which are introduced into the text thanks to the cognitive metaphor. Metaphor allows to compare economic and political concepts with simple and visible images. The construction of conceptual integration schemes makes it possible to track the process of forming a particular image and, consequently, implementing a persuasive strategy in a media text. In modern research, the mechanism of intertextuality can be analyzed in terms of conceptual integration, since intertextual references make a connection with background knowledge.Methodology and sources. The material for the study was articles in English published in American periodicals: https://www.nytimes.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com, as well as on the website https://edition.cnn.com. At the first stage of the study, articles were considered at the text level with the identification of lexical, syntactic and stylistic aspects of the functioning of the discourse. At the second stage (discourse as a discursive practice), examples of intertextuality were investigated, including the depth layer of intertext – cognitive one. The essence of the third stage of work with media texts was the search for interconnection and mutual influence of discourse and social practice. At this stage of the study, the focus of attention was shifted from the media text itself to the socio-political situation in the context of which this text was generated. At each level, an attempt was made to determine which of the means contribute to the realization of the persuasive strategy in the media text and how it is carried out.Results and discussion. The phenomenon of migration is examined in media texts as objectively as possible, both the pros and cons of the migration process are given. The evaluation strategy and related tactics are mainly aimed at describing the actions of politicians. Discrediting tactics directed against Trump are adjacent to Biden’s positive representation tactics and, thus, we-they polarization (we-Biden, they-Trump) through linguistic means, as well as cognitive metaphor is performed. In the articles reviewed, lexemes from the migration and militaristic discourse are often found, and vocabulary describing the events of the coronavirus pandemic period and the accompanying economic crisis are widespread. From the viewpoint of intertextual references, a high percentage of numerals and proper names, which give the impression of the authority of the material, might be of particular interest. The cognitive layer of intertext is widely represented by a conceptual metaphor. Some metaphors discussed in the article participate in the representation of migration and the migration crisis, other metaphors contribute to understanding political and economical processes and phenomena directly or indirectly related to migration. Metaphor-disease, metaphor-natural phenomenon and commoditymaterial metaphor were the most common in the studied body of texts.Conclusion. The migration discourse studied is explicitly related to politics, to issues of power and influence. The persuasive strategy contributes to the construction of images of politicians: Trump is introduced through the mistakes that he made as president of the United States, as well as his inadequate and sometimes cruel actions against migrants, Biden is represented through social problems that he needs to solve performing the role of the president elect. Obviously, the migration issue is a key factor, a test task, which Biden will have to work on immediately after coming to power.

Modalization of Speech Actions as the Basis of the Metaphoric Transfer (on the Example of German Economic Discourse)

The question of the nature of speech modalization has been repeatedly considered in linguistics from various positions, which is partially reflected in the text of the article. The authors of the publication propose to look at the points of intersection of the process of metaphorization of statements within the framework of one type of discourse with the expression of the author's attitude to and/or assessment of its content. To substantiate the validity of this approach, the authors refer to the methodology of logical analysis of language, the theory of intersubjectivity and the theory of evaluativity, linking cognitive methods of analyzing the process of metaphorization with a broad understanding of the category of modality. This formulation of the problem fits into the modern scientific paradigm of interdisciplinarity and the actualization of interdisciplinary relations, which reflects the relevance of the proposed text. The scientific novelty of the topic is an attempt to determine the correlation of the category of modality in its axiological and ideological aspects with metaphorization as a means of actualizing evaluativity in economic discourse. Commonly, denoting phenomena, processes or results is not limited to their nomination, but the producer of the utterance gives them a modal assessment. The empirical material containing fragments of texts of the German-language mass media on economic topics reflects the validity of the proposed interpretation of the issue, shows the potential relationship of phenomena in the intersection of various connotative meanings of a cognitive metaphor, potentially serving to express the attitude to the proposition of an utterance at the level of intersubjective assessments that create a modal frame of the text. The given examples clearly demonstrate that cognitive metaphors in various forms of their implementation could serve to express ideological modality from the standpoint of intersubjectivity, since the producer of the text relies on the reflection of a fragment of reality in the communicative and cognitive activity of subjects of the national-cultural community of people. The article recognizes a certain ambiguity of the proposed interpretation of the category of modality, which is considered in the traditional grammar as an expression of possibility, ought and desirability, or as a confidence, doubt and assertion that the action is carried out at different time levels using phrases with modal verbs, modal words or adverbs, particles, etc. Thus, the article can be considered as an indirect invitation to a discussion on the issue.

A Metaphorical Analysis of Female Worship in the Kam Epic: Songs of Kam Remote Ancestors

Metaphor is a cognitive mechanism in which people understand an abstract and unfamiliar object by comparing it to a more concrete and familiar one, according to rhetoric, while modern cognitive linguistics holds that metaphor is a cognitive mechanism in which people understand an abstract and unfamiliar object by comparing it to a more concrete and familiar one, according to modern cognitive linguistics. It’s a basic human cognitive and thinking model. Therefore, cognitive metaphor study is devoted to revealing the deep cognitive patterns of language and explaining various cognitive behaviors through languages. Myth is an important vector of human culture and has a profound influence on the formation of national cultural psychology. The Kam’s epic Songs of Kam Remote Ancestors as a narrative ancient song of the Kam covers the longest history of the Kam and has the highest content about the Kam’s ancestors. This epic has many descriptions of woman ancestors and a large number of metaphors of women as well, which reflects the unique position of women in the Kam culture. This study draws on the cognitive metaphor theory to investigate the female metaphors with the purpose of uncovering the development and evolution of the Kam’s woman worship perception in their history by using MIP metaphor identifying method.