Abstract

Formal knowledge representation struggles to represent the dynamic changes within complex events in a cognitively plausible way. Image schemas, on the other hand, are spatiotemporal relationships used in cognitive science as building blocks to conceptualise objects and events on a high level of abstraction. In this paper, we explore this modelling gap by looking at how image schemas can capture the skeletal information of events and describe segmentation cuts essential for conceptualising dynamic changes. The main contribution of the paper is the introduction of a more systematic approach for the combination of image schemas with one another in order to capture the conceptual representation of complex concepts and events. To reach this goal we use the image schema logic ISL, and, based on foundational research in cognitive linguistics and developmental psychology, we motivate three different methods for the formal combination of image schemas: merge, collection, and structured combination. These methods are then used for formal event segmentation where the changes in image-schematic state generate the points of separation into individual scenes. The paper concludes with a demonstration of our methodology and an ontological analysis of the classic commonsense reasoning problem of ‘cracking an egg.’

Highlights

  • Capturing the nature of complex concepts and events, and the dynamic transformations they bring about in the world, is a difficult problem

  • They are studied in cognitive linguistics (e.g. [28]), developmental psychology (e.g. [47]) and formal knowledge representation (e.g. [33])

  • In order to contribute to this research agenda, this paper addresses the problem of image schema combinations and illustrates how their formal representation can be used as modelling patterns

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Summary

Introduction

Capturing the nature of complex concepts and events, and the dynamic transformations they bring about in the world, is a difficult problem. By using the formal representation of such conceptual primitives in different combinations, it is possible to approach a more cognitively plausible representation of events. This formal representation needs to be bootstrapped for the most simple image schemas, for which we employ the tailor-made spatiotemporal logic for image schemas ISL, introduced in [32]. [27] for early work in this direction) Such a hybrid approach is still based on the same fundamental principles of cognitively inspired modelling of events using image schemas, whilst avoiding both, handcrafted modelling of temporal event structure as well as logical modelling of causation and physics (instead relying on simulations). Introduced in [16]) for the representation of dynamic concepts and events

The Foundations of Meaning
Formally Representing Image Schemas Using ISL
ISL: The Image Schema Logic
Syntax and Semantics of ISL
Three Types of Image Schema Combinations
Merges
Collections
Structured
Studies in Egg Cracking with Image Schemas
Dropping an Egg
Cracking an Egg into a Bowl
The Problem of Force in Egg Cracking
Discussion and Conclusions
Full Text
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