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4 - Iconicity and Image Schemas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2024

Shu-Ling Wu
Affiliation:
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Lihong Huang
Affiliation:
Georgetown University, Washington DC
Carl Polley
Affiliation:
University of Hawaii
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Summary

Chapter 4 looks at the concepts of iconicity and image schemas. Iconicity refers to a phenomenon that illustrates natural resemblance between language and concepts and demonstrates direct correspondence between the linguistic form and the meaning to be conveyed. For instance, we tend to state events based on the temporal sequence of their actual occurrence. And linguistic distance often corresponds to conceptual distance. We use longer utterances iconic of “distance” to show politeness when talking to new acquaintances. Image schemas, as the bridge between sensorimotor experience and concepts, are the preconceptual structures derived from our sensorimotor experiences, through which we can structure abstract concepts and carry out inferences. This chapter discusses through a variety of examples how iconicity and image schemas can be useful in facilitating language learning.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Iconicity and Image Schemas
  • Shu-Ling Wu, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Lihong Huang, Georgetown University, Washington DC, Carl Polley, University of Hawaii
  • Book: Cognitive Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition of Chinese
  • Online publication: 01 February 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009186711.005
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  • Iconicity and Image Schemas
  • Shu-Ling Wu, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Lihong Huang, Georgetown University, Washington DC, Carl Polley, University of Hawaii
  • Book: Cognitive Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition of Chinese
  • Online publication: 01 February 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009186711.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Iconicity and Image Schemas
  • Shu-Ling Wu, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Lihong Huang, Georgetown University, Washington DC, Carl Polley, University of Hawaii
  • Book: Cognitive Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition of Chinese
  • Online publication: 01 February 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009186711.005
Available formats
×