On Hidden Negation in English from the Perspective of Embodied Cognition

doi:10.12002/j.bisu.275

Abstract

Abstract:

Hidden negation is a special linguistic phenomenon. On the lexical level, hidden negation refers to the fact that some words, in spite of their often-used affirmative senses, can be used in a certain context to convey negative meanings. This paper probes into hidden negation in English from the perspective of embodied cognition in cognitive linguistics. The research results show that English hidden negation can be divided roughly into location negation, scope negation, distance negation, loss negation, want negation, point negation, and dimension negation. The hidden negative meanings of such English words are actually the new meanings extended from the affirmative senses, which are both empirical and emotional. The establishment of hidden negation, therefore, is attributed to the combination of the empirical coexistence of people, the solidification of language use, and the experience of people’s feelings; both the body and mind play an active role in the generation of the hidden negative meanings. In addition, the metaphoric projection also plays an important role in the formation process of these words’ negative meanings, and this process mainly entails spatial metaphor, existential metaphor, and numerical metaphor. This study may illuminate a new approach for the exploration of meaning extension of these special words. .

Keywords: experience; emotion; hidden negation; projection; embodied cognition

摘要：

隐性否定是一种特殊的语言现象。就词汇而言,隐性否定指某些词汇一般呈现肯定意义,但在具体语言使用中却表示否定意义。本文基于认知语言学的体认语义观,对英语隐性否定作了探讨。研究发现,英语隐性否定主要包括方位、范围、距离、丧失、空缺、节点和维度等七种情形,涉及介词、名词和形容词等不同词类。这些英语词汇隐含的否定意义是其基本肯定义延伸的新义,该否定新义具有体验和情感双重属性。否定新义的产生既有认知主体体验共现和语用加强的作用,也有认知主体心理情感的影响,既寓于身,也寓于心,是认知主体身心并推的产物。此外,否定新义的产生在认知层面还涉及空间隐喻、存在隐喻和标量隐喻等三种隐喻投射。本研究能够为一些特殊词汇意义的演变提供新的思路和方法。

关键词: 体验, 情感, 隐性否定, 投射, 具体认知

CLC Number:

H030

Ma Yongtian. On Hidden Negation in English from the Perspective of Embodied Cognition[J]. Journal of Beijing International Studies University, 2020, 42(2): 62-75.

马永田. 具身认知视角下的英语隐性否定研究[J]. 北京第二外国语学院学报, 2020, 42(2): 62-75.

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