Embodied simulations and verbal irony comprehension
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Herbert L. Colston
Abstract
Recent research has addressed the role that embodied simulations (ESs) play in language processing (Bergen, 2012). One forefront in this work is investigating ESs’ role in metaphorical language comprehension, as when one hears or reads: “The Donald Trump supporter went bananas after the 2016 U.S. election”. The work reveals that the pattern of ESs found in metaphor processing resembles that of comparable non-metaphorical language – but isn’t exactly the same. Current work is attempting to discern how similar/different these ES patterns are. To date, however, little work has explored embodied simulations in verbal irony (e.g., sarcasm, as in saying, “Nice work” when someone errs). The current study reports preliminary results of an analysis of ES activity when people process verbal irony.
Abstract
Recent research has addressed the role that embodied simulations (ESs) play in language processing (Bergen, 2012). One forefront in this work is investigating ESs’ role in metaphorical language comprehension, as when one hears or reads: “The Donald Trump supporter went bananas after the 2016 U.S. election”. The work reveals that the pattern of ESs found in metaphor processing resembles that of comparable non-metaphorical language – but isn’t exactly the same. Current work is attempting to discern how similar/different these ES patterns are. To date, however, little work has explored embodied simulations in verbal irony (e.g., sarcasm, as in saying, “Nice work” when someone errs). The current study reports preliminary results of an analysis of ES activity when people process verbal irony.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Figurative thought and language research in the 21st century 1
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Part 1. Modeling figurative thought and language
- Important challenges in the study of metaphors 19
- A Cognitive Grammar approach to ‘metonymy’ 37
- Targetting metonymic targets 59
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Part 2. The impact of figurative thought on linguistic structures
- The effect of figurative thought on basic level categorization 89
- Reconsidering accounts of the grammaticalization of auxiliaries 113
- Physical and communicative force in Caused-Motion constructions 141
-
Part 3. Processing of figurative language
- Embodied simulations and verbal irony comprehension 167
- Verbal and situational irony 185
-
Part 4. Figurative thought and language in use
- Metonymies of migration 215
- Draining the swamp 237
- Being in the same boat , in two ways 259
- Index 285
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Figurative thought and language research in the 21st century 1
-
Part 1. Modeling figurative thought and language
- Important challenges in the study of metaphors 19
- A Cognitive Grammar approach to ‘metonymy’ 37
- Targetting metonymic targets 59
-
Part 2. The impact of figurative thought on linguistic structures
- The effect of figurative thought on basic level categorization 89
- Reconsidering accounts of the grammaticalization of auxiliaries 113
- Physical and communicative force in Caused-Motion constructions 141
-
Part 3. Processing of figurative language
- Embodied simulations and verbal irony comprehension 167
- Verbal and situational irony 185
-
Part 4. Figurative thought and language in use
- Metonymies of migration 215
- Draining the swamp 237
- Being in the same boat , in two ways 259
- Index 285
