Cognitive Linguistics Research Articles

A bibliometric analysis of metonymy in SSCI-indexed research (2000–2023): retrospect and prospect

IntroductionMetonymy has gained increasing attention for its role in shaping language, thought, and communication. Despite its prominence, the thematic evolution and future directions of metonymy research remain underexplored. This study seeks to address this gap by analyzing metonymy research published between 2000 and 2023, providing a comprehensive overview of its key trends and emerging themes.MethodsA bibliometric analysis was conducted using data sourced from the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) within the Web of Science Core Collection. Co-citation and co-word analysis were employed alongside k-means clustering techniques to identify research themes. Predictive modeling, including ARIMA and LSTM approaches, was used to forecast future research topics based on keyword trends.ResultsThe analysis identified 11 key research clusters, highlighting the central role of cognitive and conceptual linguistics in metonymy research, along with its applications in semantics, pragmatics, and multimodal contexts. Predictive modeling suggested the emergence of seven new research themes for 2024–2028, including the interaction between metonymy and discourse, its role in multimodal communication, and its application in social and cultural narratives.DiscussionThis study underscores the interdisciplinary nature of metonymy research, bridging linguistic, cognitive, and social dimensions. The findings highlight promising areas for future exploration, namely, its integration into digital communication and its impact on cultural identity construction. The methodological approach offers a robust framework for analyzing and predicting research trends, paving the way for innovative contributions to the field.

Divine action in the flesh: A cognitive linguistic evaluation of Pannenberg's theology

Abstract This paper aims to examine Wolfhart Pannenberg's theology of divine action using the conceptual framework of cognitive linguistics. Central to this exploration is Pannenberg's use of the scientific concept of force field in an analogical/metaphorical way, enabling him to present a trinitarian-pneumatological understanding of divine action through divine omniscience and omnipresence. This paper argues that, despite justified criticisms of Pannenberg's reliance on Faraday's outdated concept of a universal force field, recent developments in cognitive linguistics affirm the legitimacy of Pannenberg's panentheistic metaphorical approach to the theology of divine action while calling for revisions.

Commonality vs. Cultural Specificity of Anger Metaphors and Metonymies in Chinese and Russian Idioms

Based on the conceptual metaphor theory, this study explores the conceptualization structure and actual use of anger metaphors and metonymies in the cultural context of the two countries. The research materials come from Russian and Chinese idiom dictionaries and practical investigations on anger idioms. The study found that the conceptualization of anger between the two nations has similarities and differences. The similarities are reflected in the fact that Chinese and Russians conceptualize anger based on personal experience and cultural patterns. The main differences are concentrated in Chinese idioms influenced by traditional Chinese medicine and the theory of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. Anger is metaphorically represented as "qi" (gas) rather than liquid, and visceral metaphors are often used. The Chinese Peking Opera mask culture also influences it.In contrast, anger is regarded as two liquid forms in Russian idioms, represented by blood elements as containers and water elements that boil after heating, accompanied by the appearance of animal nouns, and have a specific religious color. The practical investigation found that although dozens of idioms express anger for daily selection, cultural background, and cultural preferences limit the tendency to use metaphors and metonymies. The results of this study can provide a reference for cognitive linguistics research, language teaching, and actual communication.

Refining the network for the Chinese analytic causative constructicon: insights from corpus analysis and psycholinguistic experimentation

Abstract This study explores the network of the Chinese analytic causative constructicon adopting a cross-variety perspective. Unlike prior research focusing solely on the causative marker, this study acknowledges the multi-level nature of the constructicon and examines the descriptive causative construction identified by Zhang, Lili. (2005. Cong shiyi dao zhishi [The causativisation of Chinese shi-yi constructions]. Taida Wenshi Zhexue Bao (62). 119–152), which features a syntactically specified causee slot and a semantically defined effect predicate slot, distinguishing it from general causatives. Combining corpus analysis and psycholinguistic experimentation, our research reveals a consistent preference for using lìng as the causative marker within the descriptive causative construction, observed in both Mainland and Taiwan Chinese. By analyzing the syntactic and semantic features of the descriptive causative construction and its association with the causative marker lìng, we argue that this construction is stored at a separate level. Furthermore, we propose that the Chinese analytic causative constructicon is best represented by a radial network, accommodating both hierarchical and associative relationships, rather than a purely hierarchical structure as illustrated in Pijpops, Dirk, Dirk Speelman, Freek Van De Velde & Stefan Grondelaers. (2021. Incorporating the multi-level nature of the constructicon into hypothesis testing. Cognitive Linguistics 32(3). 487–528).

BERT-assisted behavioral profiling of polysemy: contrastive analysis of HONG in Chinese and RED in English

Abstract This study conducts a corpus-based contrastive analysis of the basic color term “red” in Chinese (HONG) and English (RED), innovatively employing the AI model BERT to triangulate, validate, and enrich the findings of the behavioral profile (BP) analysis. Results illustrate HONG’s more variational semasiological structure than RED, with both exhibiting unique usage patterns among similarities. The triangulation with BERT embeddings visualizes the performance of each subjectively annotated BP variable, and further demonstrates the semantic extending process in both HONG and RED. The underlying cognitive and socio-cultural factors are lastly discussed. Theoretically, this study bridges frequency-based AI models and usage-based Cognitive Linguistics by simulating human cognitive processes to abstract linguistic knowledge from extensive data, advancing our understanding of language through AI technology. Methodologically, this study is the first to integrate AI models in assisting BP analysis, with BERT embeddings offering objective corroborations and deeper insights for conclusions drawn from subjectively labeled BP data.

Modern English Studies: New Trends in Language Research

The article provides a concise overview of the International Scientific Conference “English Studies in the Third Millennium: New Approaches and Development Trends,” held at the Belarusian State University on October 3–5, 2024 in Minsk, Belarus. The conference brought together over 100 scholars, educators, and researchers from Belarus, Russia, and Oman, representing a wide range of academic institutions. The event, organized by the Belarusian State University, the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Moscow State Linguistic University, aimed to explore contemporary trends in theoretical and applied linguistics through the lens of interdisciplinary approaches such as cognitive linguistics, digital linguistics, intercultural communication, and multimodal studies. The conference featured plenary and sectional sessions, with presentations by leading experts in the field who discussed topics ranging from discourse analysis and linguistic narratives to the role of language in cultural identity and conflict resolution. Researchers also addressed emerging issues in English studies, such as the impact of globalization on linguistic norms, the functional dynamics of English language units, and the interconnection of language and culture. Beyond academic exchange, the conference facilitated cultural and professional networking, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the challenges of modern linguistics.

A comparative study of the “tradition” concept in Uzbek and Russian linguistic frameworks

This comparative linguistic study delves into the semantic and cultural representations of the concept of “tradition” in Uzbek and Russian languages. Employing methodologies such as semantic field analysis, cognitive linguistics, and corpus linguistics, the research elucidates how “tradition” is lexically encoded and culturally contextualized within these distinct ethno-linguistic frameworks. The findings reveal that the Uzbek term “an’ana” predominantly conveys communal and familial customs, reflecting the society’s collectivist ethos, whereas the Russian «традиция» encompasses a broader spectrum, including institutional conventions, indicative of a more centralized cultural narrative.

The Language of Infographics: Toward Understanding Conceptual Metaphor Use in Scientific Storytelling.

We apply an approach from cognitive linguistics by mapping Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) to the visualization domain to address patterns of visual conceptual metaphors that are often used in science infographics. Metaphors play an essential part in visual communication and are frequently employed to explain complex concepts. However, their use is often based on intuition, rather than following a formal process. At present, we lack tools and language for understanding and describing metaphor use in visualization to the extent where taxonomy and grammar could guide the creation of visual components, e.g., infographics. Our classification of the visual conceptual mappings within scientific representations is based on the breakdown of visual components in existing scientific infographics. We demonstrate the development of this mapping through a detailed analysis of data collected from four domains (biomedicine, climate, space, and anthropology) that represent a diverse range of visual conceptual metaphors used in the visual communication of science. This work allows us to identify patterns of visual conceptual metaphor use within the domains, resolve ambiguities about why specific conceptual metaphors are used, and develop a better overall understanding of visual metaphor use in scientific infographics. Our analysis shows that ontological and orientational conceptual metaphors are the most widely applied to translate complex scientific concepts. To support our findings we developed a visual exploratory tool based on the collected database that places the individual infographics on a spatio-temporal scale and illustrates the breakdown of visual conceptual metaphors.

Linguistics: from the science of human language to its disciplines and applications

Linguistics is the science that studies human language in all its forms, focusing on the structure, evolution, and functions of languages. This article provides an overview of the various branches of linguistics, such as phonetics, phonology, lexicology, grammar (morphology and syntax), semantics, pragmatics, as well as more specialized fields like cognitive linguistics, paralinguistics, and psycholinguistics. It also discusses the historical developments of the discipline, including the emergence of major linguistic schools and the development of applied linguistics in the 20th century, influenced by technological advances. Finally, it describes several sub-disciplines, such as comparative linguistics, linguistic typology, and dialectology, which allow for the analysis of languages through different synchronic and diachronic perspectives. This analysis highlights the importance of linguistics in understanding language and human communication across time and space.

Perception of wisdom in biblical metaphors by post-atheistic Russian studying youth

Introduction. Religion is the basis for the worldview system and lays down value foundations in the formation of personality. In this regard, UNESCO is taking the initiative to unambiguously define common cultural and religious values at the international level. Wisdom is the value-semantic basis connecting cultural and religious groups. The methodological approach relies on a biblical understanding of wisdom. The aim is to reconstruct conceptual metaphors of biblical wisdom and correlate them with the students’ modern understanding. Materials and methods. Based on the deductive method of cognitive linguistics, the structure of the biblical concept of "wisdom" was analyzed and the correlative model was built. Metaphors obtained at the first stage of the corpus study were offered to the students to assess their significance. Religious identification, intensity of faith, and the attractiveness of wisdom as a personal characteristic were also studied. 214 students of Tyumen State University and Tyumen State Medical University participated in the research. Data was collected online. Statistical processing took place in the Statistica 10.0 program with the calculation of the Pearson rank correlation coefficient. Results. The theoretical study shows that the concept of "wisdom" has a strict frame, expressed in six metaphorical images: wealth, human virtue, modesty, gift from above, knowledge, and happiness. The main distinguishing feature of understanding wisdom in the Bible is its sacralization. An empirical study found that more than 60% of youth have conscious religious identification and practice traditional religions (47% profess Christianity; 33% are atheists). Wisdom is understood through the metaphor "knowledge." Unlike biblical understanding, this connotation lacks sacrality and mystery. Wisdom is associated with life experience therefore its formation is possible. The value of wisdom as a characteristic of personality and the desire to acquire it increases with the intensity of faith (religiosity) of young people (r = 0.72). Conclusion. The study of religious texts of the Bible is not carried out by the system of secondary and higher education in the Russian Federation therefore the influence of biblical images is preserved through indirect sources. Wisdom as a characteristic of personality is attractive for most of the younger generation, but the meaning of the concept is greatly diffused among representatives of different religious denominations and simplified. UNESCO initiatives involve increasing the importance of religious and cultural content in modern education. This work was done to achieve better understanding between representatives of different religious views.

Metaphorical Conceptualization of Sadness in Wolaita

This study investigates the metaphorical conceptualization of sadness in Wolaita, a language spoken by over 1.6 million people in Ethiopia, from a cognitive-linguistic perspective. Grounded in Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), the research explores how the Wolaita people express sadness through linguistic metaphors and compares these with findings from well-studied languages such as English, Amharic, and Agnwa. The study aims to identify linguistic metaphors for sadness in Wolaita, describe their universal and culturally specific bases, and contribute to the debate on the universality versus culture-specificity of emotion conceptualization. Using qualitative methods, including data elicitation, introspection, and analysis of written and spoken texts, the study examines metaphorical expressions of sadness in Wolaita. Data sources include Wolaita-language textbooks, a bilingual dictionary, idioms, audio-visual materials, and native-speaker intuitions. The analysis identifies conceptual mappings between source domains (e.g., pain, fluid, journey) and the target domain of sadness. The findings reveal that sadness in Wolaita is conceptualized through metaphors such as “sadness is pain,” “sadness is fluid,” “sadness is down,” “sadness is enemy,” “sadness is burden,” “sadness is journey,” “sadness is food,” and “sadness is gift.” These metaphors reflect the Wolaita people’s perception of sadness as an undesirable emotion, with cultural peculiarities such as the use of spoiled foods and impure fluids to represent its intensity. The study demonstrates that although sadness is universal at a basic level, its complex conceptualizations exhibit cultural specificity. This research contributes to cognitive linguistics and emotion studies by providing empirical evidence from an understudied language. It highlights the interconnection between universal human experiences and culturally shaped metaphors, enriching our understanding of the universality versus culture-specificity debate and underscoring the importance of linguistic diversity in emotion research.

Cognitive Linguistics Theory in Anthropocentric Paradigm

This study examines cognitive linguistics within the framework of the anthropocentric paradigm, focusing on the dynamic interplay between language and thought. The study aims to unravel how these two elements mutually shape and influence each other, highlighting the centrality of the anthropocentric perspective in understanding cognitive processes. The research underscores the relevance of this approach in contemporary linguistics, offering valuable insights into the ways in which language not only reflects but also molds our perception of reality. Through a detailed analysis, the study explores how linguistic structures inform cognitive frameworks and how these structures, in turn, guide thought patterns. The findings demonstrate that language is a key determinant in shaping cognitive processes and influencing how individuals conceptualize and engage with the world around them. The author's scientific contribution lies in advancing linguistic theories and offering innovative perspectives on the practical applications of the anthropocentric paradigm, particularly in the domains of education and cognitive science. By focusing on the role of language in cognitive development, the research opens new avenues for future exploration and provides a critical reassessment of existing linguistic models. This work invites further inquiry into the intersection of language, thought, and cognition, contributing to a deeper understanding of the human mind and its connection to language. Ultimately, the study emphasizes the transformative potential of the anthropocentric approach in reshaping linguistic and educational methodologies.

THE MULTILINGUAL BRAIN: UNVEILING COGNITIVE AND NEURAL DYNAMICS IN LANGUAGE LEARNING

In today's world, where multilingualism has become the norm and monolinguals are in the minority, academic research has been slow to adapt to this reality. This phenomenon, which highlights the human brain's ability to master multiple languages whether it be the native language (L1), a second language (L2), or even a third language (L3) calls for a reevaluation of traditional paradigms. This study aims to challenge conventional approaches in cognitive linguistics, particularly those related to language acquisition, language choice, and the underlying cerebral processes. The research questions addressed include: how individuals navigate between multiple languages in various cognitive and social contexts, and what are the implications for our understanding of human cognitive abilities? The methodology employed combines experimental analyses using brain imaging, psycholinguistic testing, and sociolinguistic surveys of multilingual speakers. The findings reveal that bilingualism and multilingualism not only enhance cognitive flexibility but also improve problem-solving abilities and adaptability in multicultural environments. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that multilingualism is not merely the acquisition of multiple linguistic systems, but a complex phenomenon that impacts cognition, social interactions, and brain structures. By redefining our understanding of cognitive and linguistic processes, this research proposes new paradigms for studying language in a globalized context.

Reception of the political news narratives in readers’ responses: multimodality and intertextuality

Developed in the field of international relations, the theory of the strategic narrative (Miskimmon et al., 2013; 2017 among others) identifies it as a means for political actors to construct a shared meaning of international politics, and to shape the perceptions, beliefs, and behaviour of domestic and international actors. The authors of the theory maintain that the explanation of the workings of the strategic narrative presumes the study of its formation, projection, and reception. Such explanation brings together various scholarly fields aimed at the search of the lacking methodology that demonstrates how the formation, projection, and reception aspects of the strategic narrative work together as a triptych. The proposed article approaches this problem from the perspective of cognitive linguistics that studies conceptual grounds for verbally delivered information. The article forwards and tests a novel methodological framework, which posits a cognitive ontology of the information, featured verbally and visually, as the feasible grounds for tracking regularities in the simultaneous dynamics of the three narrative aspects. The article focuses on the projection / reception narrative aspects, represented in a media news text and the readers’ responses to it – the issue relevant for the linguistic field of intertextuality. Methodologically and thematically, the article continues the previous research (Zhabotynska & Velivchenko, 2019; Zhabotynska & Ryzhova, 2022; Chaban et al. 2023; Chaban et al. 2024 among others) of the formation / projection aspects of the strategic narrative featured in a news media text.

THE SEMANTIC NATURE OF COGNITIVE METAPHOR IN KAZAKH FOLK LYRICS

A metaphor is a linguistic tool used to express ideas or concepts through comparison with something else. The use of metaphor has been a consistent feature of poetry throughout history. Our article examines the semantic nature of cognitive metaphor in Kazakh folk lyrics. In the work The Word of Ancestors, which serves as the object of this research, it is emphasized that the linguistic units defining the cognitive metaphor are embedded in the national worldview. Analyzed how metaphors were used in the work “The Word of Ancestors”, researchers gain a deep understanding of how the human brain processes and interprets language. Our article employs methods such as literary analysis and cognitive linguistics. As a result, the study of the semantics of cognitive metaphor in Kazakh lyrics gives an idea of the cognitive processes associated with metaphorical thinking and the use of language. The main purpose of our article is to identify the semantic nature of cognitive metaphor in the language of Kazakh folk lyrics. The frames reflecting the existence and vital activity of the Kazakh people are analyzed. In addition, the transfer of cognitive metaphors through scenario and schematic structures and images revealing their meaning was identified and analyzed. The types of stable and individualized metaphors, epithet and comparative metaphors, cognitive metaphors were identified, examples were given and we tried to analyze them. The theoretical results of the work can be used in such courses as Cognitive Linguistics, Ethnolinguistics, Linguistics, Text Linguistics. It can also be used as an auxiliary material for practical classes on the subjects of “Stylistics and linguistic culture”, linguistic analysis of a literary text.

Динамические изменения концепта любовь в современных коммуникативных жанрах (на материале интернет-коммуникации)

Abstract This article is devoted to studying the changes in concept ‘love’ and the specifics of its functioning in the modern Russian communicative environment. The Aim of the paper is to study the conceptual use dynamics in new contexts (Internet communication) and the main usage features of the concept ‘love’ in different genres. Met¬ho¬do¬logy and re¬se¬arch met¬hods: analyses the semantic filling, semantic volume, and linguistic explication, approved in the PhD theses conducted by the Nizhny Novgorod scientific school in cognitive linguistics; linguistic observation and discourse analysis methods; comparison, description; Internet monitoring. Results. As a result of the research, it was established that changes in the usage value for concept ‘love’ are connected with the family relations structure development and new connections between the concepts ‘love’ and ‘sex’; we listed the forms of concept ‘love’ manifestation, traced dynamics in word ‘love’ usage at lexico-semantic and lexico-phraseological levels both in the Soviet period and in modern times. Scientific novelty. In addition to new concept manifestations in a vibrant online network discourse environment, attention is paid to and texts including creolised forms are analysed. The practical significance of the study consists mainly of the fact that the obtained results can be used as reference material for various current studies in communicative and discourse analysis.

Способы дипломатических отношений: когнитивнокоммуникативный подход (на материале современного английского языка)

e linguistic study of diplomatic relations is a complex problem, which is considered by representatives of different scientific schools, with their own research perspectives. The databases of scientific literature contain materials on communicative linguistics, language theory, cognitive linguistics and other disciplines that form the basis for modern research in this field. The purpose of the work is to consider the methods of diplomatic relations from the standpoint of a cognitive-communicative approach in modern English. The stated approach involves studying the structures of knowledge about diplomatic relations in correlation with the means of their representation in communication processes. Based on an extensive selection of scientific literature and dictionaries, a conceptual and definitional analysis has been carried out to determine the structure of the DIPLOMACY concept. There have been singled out both central (SKILL, RELATIONS, CONDUCT) and non-central characteristics (NEGOTIATION, MANAGE, TACT, etc.) The classification criteria have been identified with the sources of factual material reflecting 30 ways of diplomatic relations. The data on the types of diplomacy have been presented in accordance with the highlighted conceptual characteristics. In the future, the results of the study will be used to describe the interpretation of diplomatic relations in the context of various conceptual areas. It is also promising to study the cognitive models underlying the structures of knowledge about the methods of diplomatic relations, as well as to determine the cognitive and linguistic mechanisms of secondary interpretation of diplomatic relations in English. The applied aspect is the systematization of linguistic means of representation of diplomatic relations in communication.

Animalistic Vocabulary in Animal Tales

The article is devoted to consideration of animalistic vocabulary in Kazakh and English. The purpose is to consider animalistic vocabulary based on Kazakh and English animal tales from the linguocultural and comparative aspects. Despite the universality of animalistic vocabulary, research in this area is limited. Animalistic vocabulary reflects the relationship between language and culture, linguocultural information related to the way of life, traditions, and beliefs of the Kazakh and English peoples. The article identifies similarities and differences in animalistic vocabulary in Kazakh and English. As part of our research methodology, comparative and linguocultural analysis of lexical units from English fairy tales about animals and their counterparts in Kazakh was carried out. Fairy tales about animals were collected in both languages, the meaning of animal-related vocabulary was identified, and their shared and unique cultural characteristics were analyzed. As a result, ethnocultural codes unique to a particular nation were identified and analyzed. It has been observed that the accumulated human experience is determined in culture by various character systems. The scientific value of the article is determined from the linguistic and cultural points of view on the world perception and cognition problem based on animalistic vocabulary. The results of the study can be practically used in preparation of such courses as fairy tale discourse, and cognitive linguistics.

Փոխաբերության ճանաչողական էությունը

Metaphors by their complex semantic structure never cease to attract the attention of linguists, philologists and literary scholars and are often found as central objects of examination in different studies. In the course of the development of science, metaphors having not only linguistic nature but also being phenomena expressing peculiarities of mental processes, have been studied in the fields of psychology, cognitive science, cognitive linguistics. The fact that metaphors are omnipresent serves as a reason for their study not only for the purpose of examining imaginative language and speech elements typical of the works of fiction but also for the exploration and description of human psychological portrait and understanding. In the present article an attempt is made to clarify and examine the essence of metaphors as well as the psychological and cognitive motives for their creation. From a psychological perspective, the object of examination consists in the explanation of the nature of metaphor emergence in human brain. The cognitive peculiarities of their mechanism of operation are presented in the article as well. With the objective of accomplishing a comprehensive and profound examination of metaphors, the consideration of the achievements in the fields of psychology and conginitive science, i.e. adherence to inter-disciplinary approach, which implies application of the well-defined principles of both linguistics and other sciences, is essentially important and topical.

Precedent Phenomena as a Means of Event Representation in the English Language Media Discourse

Precedent phenomena act as a tool of informing and influencing the addressee in the media space. The aim of the article is to examine the functioning of precedent phenomena as a means of representing current events in media discourse. The relevance of the research is determined by the widespread use of precedent phenomena in mass media. Concepts of precedent phenomena represent a mental image of a stereotypical situation, which reflects the results of human cognition of the surrounding reality. In modern media texts, the peripheral layer is transformed under the influence of the extralinguistic context, while the nuclear layer of the conceptual component of the concept remains unchanged. The value and figurative (metaphorical) components of precedent phenomena related to associations at the diachronic level contribute to the expansion of the notional component of the concept when representing current events at the synchronic level. The article proposes an algorithm for the study of the verbalized concepts “fifth column”, “great game”, “iron curtain”, “cold war”, “road map”, “Pearl Harbor”, which, in the form of perception invariants, are included in the cognitive base of most linguistic and cultural communities. The sources of the research material were the texts of the quality English language press in the period of 2022-2023. To accomplish the task, the following methods are applied: discourse analysis, cognitive analysis, and diachronic analysis. The discourse analysis explicates the meaning of the precedent phenomenon at the synchronic level, taking into account nonlinguistic factors (political and socio-cultural context). Cognitive analysis defines the value component of the concept, which includes subjective modalities (axiological, emotive, deontic). An axiological modality is a rational (positive or negative) assessment of an event. Emotional evaluation is the result of a sensual reaction to a fragment of the world around. The deontic modality is connected with the normative worldview of the society that regulates the behavior of people in the community and the interaction of states in the global world. Diachronic analysis reveals the origin of the precedent phenomenon and defines its value and figurative (metaphorical) aspects, as well as the core layer of the concept. The proposed algorithm of analyzing verbalized concepts can be helpful for professionals in the field of cognitive linguistics, media linguistics, and political linguistics. The investigated precedent phenomena as dynamically evolving and transforming concepts may be of interest for further detailed study.