Abstract
ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to explain why we utilize a grammar typical of movement when referring to activities conducted in cyberspace. We argue that to a large degree, perception of our activities in cyberspace has recourse to the same image schemas inherent to the concept of self-movement in physical space. This sharing of image schemas unleashes a complex process of conceptual integration, which results in the construction of a concept of self-movement proper to cyberspace. We argue on behalf of perceptual (rather than an ontological) underpinnings of grammar, in the sense that it codifies image schemas inherent to our perceptions. We concretely demonstrate that thematic roles correspond to salient aspects of the image schematic structure underlying our perception of self-movement in cyberspace. Finally, we postulate that the process of grammatical codification is regulated by the principle of perceptual prominence.
Highlights
The aim of this paper is to explain why we utilize a grammar typical of movement when referring to activities conducted in cyberspace
In the particular case of movement, this means that our transit through cyberspace is perceived and experienced through activation of the same image schemas that are inherent to our prototypical experiences of movement in physical space
To go to / enter into a windy, deep or tight-fitting page. Another well-known aspect of codification of self-movement in cyberspace is that the thematic role path is inapplicable, because it does not represent a focal aspect of our perception
Summary
“I wake up in the morning and start moving around the apartment. I go to the bathroom to brush my teeth, I go to the kitchen. In a chat, we will discuss the topic of cyberspace.” This brief report, in addition to telling you about my morning routine, serves to exemplify the way changing pages when we are in (and acting in) cyberspace is grammatically conceptualized as though it were a question of self-movement, i.e., a movement generated and maintained by ourselves which permits us to really go from place A to place B, within one same extended space. We conceptualize this change using expressions like enter, access, go to, go to the previous page, go to the page, etc. The utterances analyzed are in Spanish and have been extracted from different websites
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