Chapter 2. Toward a cognitive typology of like -expressions
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Wolfgang Schulze✝
Abstract
From a typological point of view, expressions of likeness are marked for a seemingly heterogeneous set of corresponding linguistic representations, ranging for instance from locative-based case marking strategies to lexical expressions and constructional patterns. I argue thatlike-concepts represent stative or processual/dynamic transitive relational units and hence entail strong ‘verbal’ features. This aspect links the question of the conceptual background oflike-concepts to the domain of word classes. Accordingly, the semantics oflike-expressions is conditioned both by the underlying conceptual source domain and the syntactic role the expression (lexeme or morpheme) takes up in alike-relation. In this sense, the paper distinguishes intraclausal verbal patterns (she equals/is like a queen) from clause combining patterns that relate to event images (she swims like a fish < *she swims like a fish swims). In addition,like-concepts can show up as relational concepts within NPs or as adverbial elements. Such syntactically and in parts pragmatically controlled features have a strong impact on the semantic instantiation oflike-concepts that by themselves form a subtype of projection strategies. In fact,like-concepts can be scaled according to the degree to which the domain of theotheris mapped onto the identity of the referent. Such a scale may start from the following model:similar toY>alike/equal toY >become/changed toY >temporarily beY >beY. Contrary to identification concepts,like-concepts do not signal the inclusion of a referential unit into a specific set or the referential specification of given ‘properties’. Rather,like-concepts are projection strategies that relate a referential unit to properties of another referential unit in a way that ‘disguises’ or ‘masks’ the trajectory unit with the help of properties typical for the landmark unit. This relates them tobecome-concepts (temporary transfiguration),motion(‘X moves into the region of Y thus acquiring properties of Y’) andimaging/imitation(‘X is the picture of Y’, ‘X mirrors Y’ etc.). In addition, disguising processes can be directly expressed by referring to the domain of gestalt/shape. This model is probably related to cultural practices of temporary transfiguration.
The chapter elaborates these conceptual source domains from the point of view of diachronic lexical typology. Data used to illustrate these domains are mainly taken from Indo-European languages supplemented by data from non-Indo-European, mainly Semitic, languages. Additionally, the findings are evaluated with the help of data stemming from basically two East Caucasian languages, namely Udi and its earlier relative Caucasian Albanian. The results of the second part of the paper elaborate the proposed (diachronic) semantic map oflike-concepts that may serve as a preliminary template when searching for features of both Universal Cognitive Semantics and Cultural Linguistics with respect to the typology oflike-concepts.
Abstract
From a typological point of view, expressions of likeness are marked for a seemingly heterogeneous set of corresponding linguistic representations, ranging for instance from locative-based case marking strategies to lexical expressions and constructional patterns. I argue thatlike-concepts represent stative or processual/dynamic transitive relational units and hence entail strong ‘verbal’ features. This aspect links the question of the conceptual background oflike-concepts to the domain of word classes. Accordingly, the semantics oflike-expressions is conditioned both by the underlying conceptual source domain and the syntactic role the expression (lexeme or morpheme) takes up in alike-relation. In this sense, the paper distinguishes intraclausal verbal patterns (she equals/is like a queen) from clause combining patterns that relate to event images (she swims like a fish < *she swims like a fish swims). In addition,like-concepts can show up as relational concepts within NPs or as adverbial elements. Such syntactically and in parts pragmatically controlled features have a strong impact on the semantic instantiation oflike-concepts that by themselves form a subtype of projection strategies. In fact,like-concepts can be scaled according to the degree to which the domain of theotheris mapped onto the identity of the referent. Such a scale may start from the following model:similar toY>alike/equal toY >become/changed toY >temporarily beY >beY. Contrary to identification concepts,like-concepts do not signal the inclusion of a referential unit into a specific set or the referential specification of given ‘properties’. Rather,like-concepts are projection strategies that relate a referential unit to properties of another referential unit in a way that ‘disguises’ or ‘masks’ the trajectory unit with the help of properties typical for the landmark unit. This relates them tobecome-concepts (temporary transfiguration),motion(‘X moves into the region of Y thus acquiring properties of Y’) andimaging/imitation(‘X is the picture of Y’, ‘X mirrors Y’ etc.). In addition, disguising processes can be directly expressed by referring to the domain of gestalt/shape. This model is probably related to cultural practices of temporary transfiguration.
The chapter elaborates these conceptual source domains from the point of view of diachronic lexical typology. Data used to illustrate these domains are mainly taken from Indo-European languages supplemented by data from non-Indo-European, mainly Semitic, languages. Additionally, the findings are evaluated with the help of data stemming from basically two East Caucasian languages, namely Udi and its earlier relative Caucasian Albanian. The results of the second part of the paper elaborate the proposed (diachronic) semantic map oflike-concepts that may serve as a preliminary template when searching for features of both Universal Cognitive Semantics and Cultural Linguistics with respect to the typology oflike-concepts.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
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Part I. Typology and grammaticalisation
- Chapter 1. Equative constructions in world-wide perspective 9
- Chapter 2. Toward a cognitive typology of like -expressions 33
- Chapter 3. Similarity, suitability, and non-epistemic modalities (volitionality, ability, and obligation) 79
- Chapter 4. Similative morphemes as purpose clause markers in Ethiopia and beyond 91
- Chapter 5. The deictic identification of similarity 143
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Part II. Case studies from around the world
- Chapter 6. Comparison, similarity and simulation in Zaar, a Chadic language of Nigeria 167
- Chapter 7. Similative, equative, and comparative constructions in Beja (North-Cushitic) 189
- Chapter 8. Expressing comparison in Gbaya, a Ubangian language of the Central African Republic 213
- Chapter 9. Expressing similarity in Yulu and other Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi languages (Central Africa) 239
- Chapter 10. Similarity, equality and the like in North Saami 259
- Chapter 11. Comparative, similative, and equative constructions in Mon 291
- Chapter 12. Multifunctionality and polysemy of the similative marker = kán in Pesh 321
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Part III. Similative constructions and language contact
- Chapter 13. Similative morphemes and their grammaticalisations in Yemsa 341
- Chapter 14. The morpheme ‑ (ä)ŋä in Xamtanga 359
- Chapter 15. Similarity and related functions in Libido 387
- Language index 419
- Name Index 423
- Subject index 429
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Typology and grammaticalisation
- Chapter 1. Equative constructions in world-wide perspective 9
- Chapter 2. Toward a cognitive typology of like -expressions 33
- Chapter 3. Similarity, suitability, and non-epistemic modalities (volitionality, ability, and obligation) 79
- Chapter 4. Similative morphemes as purpose clause markers in Ethiopia and beyond 91
- Chapter 5. The deictic identification of similarity 143
-
Part II. Case studies from around the world
- Chapter 6. Comparison, similarity and simulation in Zaar, a Chadic language of Nigeria 167
- Chapter 7. Similative, equative, and comparative constructions in Beja (North-Cushitic) 189
- Chapter 8. Expressing comparison in Gbaya, a Ubangian language of the Central African Republic 213
- Chapter 9. Expressing similarity in Yulu and other Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi languages (Central Africa) 239
- Chapter 10. Similarity, equality and the like in North Saami 259
- Chapter 11. Comparative, similative, and equative constructions in Mon 291
- Chapter 12. Multifunctionality and polysemy of the similative marker = kán in Pesh 321
-
Part III. Similative constructions and language contact
- Chapter 13. Similative morphemes and their grammaticalisations in Yemsa 341
- Chapter 14. The morpheme ‑ (ä)ŋä in Xamtanga 359
- Chapter 15. Similarity and related functions in Libido 387
- Language index 419
- Name Index 423
- Subject index 429
