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When Zidane is not simply Zidane, and Bill Gates is not just Bill Gates

Some thoughts on the construction of metaphtonymic meanings of proper names
  • Mario Brdar and Rita Brdar-Szabó
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Aspects of Meaning Construction
This chapter is in the book Aspects of Meaning Construction

Abstract

The present chapter deals with the problem of the construction of meaning of figuratively used personal names in the basic constructional schema Det + Xpersonal name + of Y. After a brief overview of two currently dominant philosophical approaches to problems of reference that are at odds with cognitive linguistic views, we proceed to outline a path along which their meaning is developed in several successive steps. The starting point is the enlistment of our total encyclopedic knowledge about the bearers of proper names organized in complex matrixes of domains. We outline how figurative meanings arise in a step by step fashion, involving tiers of metonymic mappings interspersed with metaphoric mappings. In doing so we also demonstrate that the paragon model can be elaborated in such a way that specific mappings become well motivated.The process of the construction of figurative meaning is shown to be complex, dynamic and flexible. Its output can be revised at every step, further enriched with information, or subsequently depleted of it, depending on the cognitive operations employed.

Abstract

The present chapter deals with the problem of the construction of meaning of figuratively used personal names in the basic constructional schema Det + Xpersonal name + of Y. After a brief overview of two currently dominant philosophical approaches to problems of reference that are at odds with cognitive linguistic views, we proceed to outline a path along which their meaning is developed in several successive steps. The starting point is the enlistment of our total encyclopedic knowledge about the bearers of proper names organized in complex matrixes of domains. We outline how figurative meanings arise in a step by step fashion, involving tiers of metonymic mappings interspersed with metaphoric mappings. In doing so we also demonstrate that the paragon model can be elaborated in such a way that specific mappings become well motivated.The process of the construction of figurative meaning is shown to be complex, dynamic and flexible. Its output can be revised at every step, further enriched with information, or subsequently depleted of it, depending on the cognitive operations employed.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. List of contributors ix
  4. Introduction. The construction of meaning in language 1
  5. Part I: Metonymy and metaphor
  6. Experiential tests of figurative meaning construction 19
  7. High-level metaphor and metonymy in meaning construction 33
  8. The role of metonymy in meaning construction at discourse level 51
  9. Chained metonymies in lexicon and grammar 77
  10. Arguing the case against coercion 99
  11. When Zidane is not simply Zidane, and Bill Gates is not just Bill Gates 125
  12. Collocational overlap can guide metaphor interpretation 143
  13. Part II: Mental spaces and conceptual blending
  14. Constructing the meanings of personal pronouns 171
  15. The construction of meaning in relative clauses 189
  16. Constraints on inferential constructions 207
  17. The construction of vagueness 225
  18. Communication or memory mismatch? 247
  19. Brutal Brits and persuasive Americans 265
  20. Index of authors 283
  21. Index of subjects 285
  22. Index of metonymies and metaphors 289
https://doi.org/10.1075/z.136.09brd

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. List of contributors ix
  4. Introduction. The construction of meaning in language 1
  5. Part I: Metonymy and metaphor
  6. Experiential tests of figurative meaning construction 19
  7. High-level metaphor and metonymy in meaning construction 33
  8. The role of metonymy in meaning construction at discourse level 51
  9. Chained metonymies in lexicon and grammar 77
  10. Arguing the case against coercion 99
  11. When Zidane is not simply Zidane, and Bill Gates is not just Bill Gates 125
  12. Collocational overlap can guide metaphor interpretation 143
  13. Part II: Mental spaces and conceptual blending
  14. Constructing the meanings of personal pronouns 171
  15. The construction of meaning in relative clauses 189
  16. Constraints on inferential constructions 207
  17. The construction of vagueness 225
  18. Communication or memory mismatch? 247
  19. Brutal Brits and persuasive Americans 265
  20. Index of authors 283
  21. Index of subjects 285
  22. Index of metonymies and metaphors 289
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