The Possibility of Semantic Features and Analysis of Figures of Speech——Cognitive Figures and Expressive Figures

• Main Authors: Liu Dawei, Wang Zhiguang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Learned Press 2007-10-01
• Series: Macrolinguistics
• Subjects: figures of speech; requisite features; possible features; impossible features; cognitive; expressive
• Online Access: http://www.macrolinguistics.com/index.php?c=msg&id=452&

In this paper, linguistic methodology is suggested for approaching figures of speech formed due to shift of cognitive relations. First, requisite features, possible features and impossible features are proposed on the basis of semantic analysis and their interrelationships and expressions are discussed. Then it is further argued that all figures formed due to shift of cognitive relation are expressed to accept an impossible feature; and there are four semantic forms to accept it: “zero distance/distanced”, “implicit/explicit”, “direct/indirect”, “positive/negative”. Finally, starting from the two approaches to figures we comment on the traditional idea of separating decoration and substance and the new idea of “function as form”.