An overview of olfactory expressions in Formosan languages
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Amy Pei-jung Lee
Abstract
This chapter presents an overview of smell lexicon and olfactory expressions in Formosan languages (i.e., the Austronesian languages spoken in Taiwan) and their typological significance. The linguistic structure of olfaction in these languages is divided into abstract smell terms and source-oriented construction. Abstract smell terms include both generic and specific smell terms. Source-oriented construction in these languages is represented by the morphological schema [PREFIX-/PROCLITIC=(REDUPLICATION) X]. The factors [± human], [± polite], and [± visible] play a role in the choice of smell terms and olfactory constructions, which pragmatically pertain to euphemistic usage and verbal abuse. Olfactory expressions are categorized cognitively in relation to pragmatic functions and metaphorical mappings.
Abstract
This chapter presents an overview of smell lexicon and olfactory expressions in Formosan languages (i.e., the Austronesian languages spoken in Taiwan) and their typological significance. The linguistic structure of olfaction in these languages is divided into abstract smell terms and source-oriented construction. Abstract smell terms include both generic and specific smell terms. Source-oriented construction in these languages is represented by the morphological schema [PREFIX-/PROCLITIC=(REDUPLICATION) X]. The factors [± human], [± polite], and [± visible] play a role in the choice of smell terms and olfactory constructions, which pragmatically pertain to euphemistic usage and verbal abuse. Olfactory expressions are categorized cognitively in relation to pragmatic functions and metaphorical mappings.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface and acknowledgments vii
- List of contributors ix
- Rendering what the nose perceives 1
- Why is smell special? 35
- The domain of olfaction in Basque 73
- On olfactory terminology in Georgian and other Kartvelian languages 113
- Let me count the ways it stinks 137
- Olfactory, gustatory and tactile perception in Beja (North-Cushitic) 175
- How to smell without a verb “to smell” in Fon 199
- How to talk about smell in Japanese 221
- An overview of olfactory expressions in Formosan languages 251
- Olfactory words in northern Vanuatu 277
- Alternating smell in Modern Hebrew 305
- Syntactic patterns for Romanian olfactive verbs 343
- Smelling over time 369
- To what extent can source-based olfactory verbs be classified as copulas? 403
- Typology of metaphors with the olfactory target domain in the Polish perfumery discourse 449
- Languages index 475
- Subjects index 477
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface and acknowledgments vii
- List of contributors ix
- Rendering what the nose perceives 1
- Why is smell special? 35
- The domain of olfaction in Basque 73
- On olfactory terminology in Georgian and other Kartvelian languages 113
- Let me count the ways it stinks 137
- Olfactory, gustatory and tactile perception in Beja (North-Cushitic) 175
- How to smell without a verb “to smell” in Fon 199
- How to talk about smell in Japanese 221
- An overview of olfactory expressions in Formosan languages 251
- Olfactory words in northern Vanuatu 277
- Alternating smell in Modern Hebrew 305
- Syntactic patterns for Romanian olfactive verbs 343
- Smelling over time 369
- To what extent can source-based olfactory verbs be classified as copulas? 403
- Typology of metaphors with the olfactory target domain in the Polish perfumery discourse 449
- Languages index 475
- Subjects index 477
