John Benjamins Publishing Company
Embodied historiography
Abstract
This paper argues that although scholars recognize the use of rhetorical devices in historiography, they overlook a deeper connection that has the potential to enrich our understanding of the historians’ art and their potential impact on their audiences. Evaluating Latin narrative structured by embodied and extended metaphor, the author considers the rhetorical device of enargeia and evaluates its definition and use in terms of mental simulation. Exploring the possible role of embodied linguistic processing in the writing and reception of narrated experience, the author finds that historiography displays a narrative strategy centered on eliciting sensorimotor activity, and suggests that the narrative of Tacitus’ Annales “works” persuasively and affectively by exploiting this narrative strategy to create specific models for reasoning about historical events.
Abstract
This paper argues that although scholars recognize the use of rhetorical devices in historiography, they overlook a deeper connection that has the potential to enrich our understanding of the historians’ art and their potential impact on their audiences. Evaluating Latin narrative structured by embodied and extended metaphor, the author considers the rhetorical device of enargeia and evaluates its definition and use in terms of mental simulation. Exploring the possible role of embodied linguistic processing in the writing and reception of narrated experience, the author finds that historiography displays a narrative strategy centered on eliciting sensorimotor activity, and suggests that the narrative of Tacitus’ Annales “works” persuasively and affectively by exploiting this narrative strategy to create specific models for reasoning about historical events.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- A matter of perspective 15
- Vertical scales in temporal sub constructions in Latin 57
- The embodied sources of purpose expressions in Latin 85
- Ontological and orientational metaphors in Latin 115
- The metaphorical structuring of kinship in Latin 141
- Abstract and embodied colors in Pliny the Elder’s Natural History 177
- Embodiment in Latin technical texts 209
- Embodied historiography 237
- Index 269
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- A matter of perspective 15
- Vertical scales in temporal sub constructions in Latin 57
- The embodied sources of purpose expressions in Latin 85
- Ontological and orientational metaphors in Latin 115
- The metaphorical structuring of kinship in Latin 141
- Abstract and embodied colors in Pliny the Elder’s Natural History 177
- Embodiment in Latin technical texts 209
- Embodied historiography 237
- Index 269
