Cognitive motivation in English complex intensifying adjectives
This paper addresses the cognitive determinants of intensification in English complex intensifying adjectives, also taking an eye to prefixation and adjective reduplication. Based on qualitative data analysis, we shall see that configurational structures such as degree, scale and boundedness play a...
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Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3
2017-09-01
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Online Access: | http://journals.openedition.org/lexis/1079 |
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doaj-a109da126e8d4baf89995bbb33ca4be82020-11-24T22:42:56ZengUniversité Jean Moulin - Lyon 3Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology1951-62152017-09-011010.4000/lexis.1079Cognitive motivation in English complex intensifying adjectivesSilvia CacchianiThis paper addresses the cognitive determinants of intensification in English complex intensifying adjectives, also taking an eye to prefixation and adjective reduplication. Based on qualitative data analysis, we shall see that configurational structures such as degree, scale and boundedness play a key role, and that the development into intensifiers involves a move from objective meanings towards subjectivity. Importantly, intensification rests on a shift from content domains to the configurational domain of degree via conceptual metaphor and conceptual metonymy, which can also operate on perceptually salient maximum reference points. Working on the assumption of parallel conceptualizations for intensifying phrases and word-formations, the chapter argues for three broad mechanisms of intensification in line with research on patterns of intensification in phrasal constructs: a degree type (all-new), a semantic-feature-copying type (snow-white, freezing cold), and a type where intensification relies on the integration of scales which associate with lexical meanings typically located in different knowledge domains (red hot and roaring drunk).http://journals.openedition.org/lexis/1079complex adjectivesconceptualizationconstructsEnglishintensification |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Silvia Cacchiani |
spellingShingle |
Silvia Cacchiani Cognitive motivation in English complex intensifying adjectives Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology complex adjectives conceptualization constructs English intensification |
author_facet |
Silvia Cacchiani |
author_sort |
Silvia Cacchiani |
title |
Cognitive motivation in English complex intensifying adjectives |
title_short |
Cognitive motivation in English complex intensifying adjectives |
title_full |
Cognitive motivation in English complex intensifying adjectives |
title_fullStr |
Cognitive motivation in English complex intensifying adjectives |
title_full_unstemmed |
Cognitive motivation in English complex intensifying adjectives |
title_sort |
cognitive motivation in english complex intensifying adjectives |
publisher |
Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3 |
series |
Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology |
issn |
1951-6215 |
publishDate |
2017-09-01 |
description |
This paper addresses the cognitive determinants of intensification in English complex intensifying adjectives, also taking an eye to prefixation and adjective reduplication. Based on qualitative data analysis, we shall see that configurational structures such as degree, scale and boundedness play a key role, and that the development into intensifiers involves a move from objective meanings towards subjectivity. Importantly, intensification rests on a shift from content domains to the configurational domain of degree via conceptual metaphor and conceptual metonymy, which can also operate on perceptually salient maximum reference points. Working on the assumption of parallel conceptualizations for intensifying phrases and word-formations, the chapter argues for three broad mechanisms of intensification in line with research on patterns of intensification in phrasal constructs: a degree type (all-new), a semantic-feature-copying type (snow-white, freezing cold), and a type where intensification relies on the integration of scales which associate with lexical meanings typically located in different knowledge domains (red hot and roaring drunk). |
topic |
complex adjectives conceptualization constructs English intensification |
url |
http://journals.openedition.org/lexis/1079 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT silviacacchiani cognitivemotivationinenglishcomplexintensifyingadjectives |
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