Language Related Research (23223081)13(2)pp. 587-621
Three types of meaning i.e., propositional, textual and interpersonal were acknowledged for language in the tradition of functional studies. In light of such appraoch, this study aims: 1) to describe different types of meanings of in (this) and ân (that) in Persian and, 2) to show that how basics of grammaticalization can be applied to provide a synchronic survey of the semantic variety of the aforementioned dectic expressions as discourse markers in Persian. On the basis of grammaticalization in terms of Traugott & Dasher (2002), this paper examines the different uses of these linguistic elements by looking at their propositional, textual and interpersonal meanings. The analysis indicates that in & ân are used exophorically, anaphorically and textually in their referential meaning and also used in the bridging contexts. Moreover, the investigation shows unlike ân, the semantic changes of in extends beyond the bridging contexts. So in (this) as a discourse marker, functions textually, subjectively and inter-ubjectively. Grammaticalization of the deictic expressions supports Traugott & Dasher's clines. However, indexicalizing speaker's spatial aspects, in & ân have impersonal subjective meaning. Therefore, Traugott & Dasher's semantic cline, should be modified in way of impersonal subjective > personal subjective > inter-subjective to describe the behavior of these linguistic elements in this respect. © 2022, Tarbiat Modares University. All rights reserved.
Cognitive Linguistic Studies (22138722)9(2)pp. 297-322
The current paper offers an analysis of a set of 27 entrenched endocentric, exocentric, and copulative ab (water)-noun nominal compounds in Persian with both right- and left-headed compounds, based on the network model of conceptual blending theory. Given that an emergent meaning is involved in endocentric and copulative compounds, the same as in exocentric compounds, the paper argues that all types of compounds can be insightfully defined as conceptual blends. However, the conceptual blending network model fails to show the distinct role of head and modifier in the overall meaning of compounds, on the one hand, and the qualifying difference in the extent of emergent meaning among various types of compound words, on the other hand. Our study also lends support to a correspondence between the continuum of integration networks and the continuum of figurativity in compounds. © 2022 John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Acta Linguistica Hafniensia (03740463)54(2)pp. 194-204
This study investigates patterns in metonymical noun-noun compounds in Persian and examines similarities and differences between metonymical compounds in Persian and in English. A detailed analysis of 435 metonymical compounds reveals the following patterns of metonymy-based compounds in Persian: i) metonymical modifier, ii) metonymical head, iii) metonymical head and modifier, iv) compound as a metonymical whole, and v) a whole-part/part-whole metonymic relationship between the components of the compound. The quantitative analysis shows that compounds with a whole-part/part-whole metonymical relationship and compounds with metonymical modifier are by far the most frequent patterns, a result that may be explained by the ease of processing of these two compound types resulting from the transparency of their head element. Comparing patterns of metonymical compounds in Persian with those described in English shows that the first four patterns are observable in both English and Persian whereas the two languages differ to some extent in the last pattern. While Persian compounds with compound-internal metonymic relationships instantiate either whole-part or part-whole metonymies, English compounds with internal metonymic relationship instantiate part-part metonymy as well as whole-part and part-whole metonymies. © 2022 The Linguistic Circle of Copenhagen.
Language and Cognition (18669808)14(3)pp. 437-455
So far, cognitive linguistics studies on COVID-19 have focused mainly on conceptual metaphors, paying scant attention to other construal operations such as force dynamics (FD). Adopting Kövecses's (2020, Rivista Italiana di Filosofia del Linguaggio) hybrid account of conceptual metaphor and FD, this study attempts to outline an enriched cognitive view of the figurative conceptualization of illness. It also aims to answer the question: Can FD and conceptual metaphors be merged in illness metaphors, particularly corona-related ones? Research in cognitive linguistics has focused on certain source domains, such as war, fire, natural force, and wild animal, through which COVID-19 is conceptualized metaphorically. Since these metaphors feature the exchange of forces and actions, a more detailed account of these two construals could be fruitful, especially the potential force schema which underlies the detected source domains. Using an amalgamated model of conceptual metaphor theory and FD, significant associations were identified between two force-exerting elements, namely Agonist and Antagonist. These findings raise important theoretical issues that have a bearing on clarifying the correlation between illness metaphors and Talmy's force-dynamic theory to cast some light on the complex metaphorical expressions embracing the subject under scrutiny. © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press.
Language Related Research (23223081)11(6)pp. 35-68
A number of linguistic studies on compounding have acknowledged that due to the existence of head element, endocentric compounds are semantically compositional and transparent. The current study aims to focus on the semantic aspect of Persian endocentric compounds to show that: 1) in some cases, the existence of head element does not entail the semantic compositionality and simplicity of conceptual structure in endocentric compounds, and 2) compound words which are categorized as endocentric compounds differ in terms of the complexity of conceptual structure. Considering that the ability of Conceptual Blending Theory (Fauconnier & Turner, 2002) to describe meaning construction in compound words has been previously approved by some cognitive linguists, this theory has been applied to analyze meaning construction in a number of Persian endocentric noun-noun nominal compounds. A close analysis reveals that although some endocentric compounds are semantically compositional and prompt for simplex networks, there are endocentric compounds which are not semantically as transparent and compositional. In this kind of endocentric compounds, metaphor or metonymy has affected the modifier element, thus meaning construction triggers singlescope networks which are neither as complex as double-scope networks nor as simple and compositional as simplex networks. This result implies the diversity of conceptual structure in words which are defined as endocentric compounds.. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Language Related Research (23223081)8(8Tome38)pp. 43-66
In the present paper, we aim to apply the Conceptual Blending Theory proposed by Fauconnier and Turner (2002) to the analysis of one poem by Garous Abdolmalekian. Our hypothesis rests upon the fact that the same cognitive operations which occur in everyday construction and understanding of language as put forth by Blending theorists, occur also at the construction and interpretation of a literary work by authors and readers alike, operations like setting of input mental spaces, cross-space matching, blending clashing material and creating emergent structure. The poem examined in the paper, "lahzeye sheni" ("the sandy moment") is quite a long poem divided into five stanzas. The method used in the examination is a descriptive-analytic one. To use conceptual means of Blending, each stanza is a blend behind which stands an integration network composed of two input spaces which have projected selective structure onto the blend leading to emergent structure in it. For example, in one stanza, what is presented is an image in which black pieces of paper thrown out of the window turn into crows and fetch on the tree branches. This is a blend created out of two inputs of crows and black pieces of paper which are integrated together through the compression of the vital relation of Change. In general, it can be assumed that the poet, while creating the work, has passed through theses mental stages before he comes up with the present form of the poem; that is, he has formed two mental input spaces, and then merged them together only to bring about a novel concept, some emerge structure, which is the poem itself. The assumption can be extended so as to include the reader on the other side of this act of communication: the reader also, on their encounter with the poem, in order to make sense of it, has to unpack the blend which is presented to him in the poem. The reader, through the mechanisms of disintegration and decompression, try to reconstruct the mental phases the author has gone through while creating the work, and thus to gain an interpretation of it. In conclusion, what this paper reveals is the fact that literary works depend upon the same basic mental operations, here the operation of blending, which are at work in like non-literary works. Moreover, a good reader is who is able to follow the author, in a reverse manner, in his act of creation, and to achieve an active participation in his act of reading. The Blending Theory, by analyzing the cognitive processes a work of art passes through, helps readers reach higher levels of the participation of the sort mentioned. © 2017, Tarbiat Modares University. All rights reserved.
Language Related Research (23223081)6(1)pp. 87-110
This paper aims at investigating the communicative functions of eloquent silence in Persian. It also investigates how contextual and pragmatic factors pave the way for silence to have such functions. In this regard, “A Separation” (2011), a widely known Oscar-winner Iranian movie by Asghar Farhadi was selected, and analyzed. This movie has been met with universal acclaim from film critics, and seemingly has utilized silence successfully in order to carry and convey some hidden messages. Instances of eloquent silence were collected and then analyzed based on Ephratt (2008) in an attempt to determine the communicative functions of each case. Our main argument has been that eloquent silence can convey different communicative hints in the course of linguistic exchanges in Persian. The results showed that eloquent silence usages do play a key role in communication in this movie and accordingly in Persian. These usages also have different types of function for the realization of which different contexts of situation seem to be at work. We also tried to analyze and explain the way contextual and pragmatic factors impact upon determining these communicative functions. In this regard, the study depicts that aim of communication, context of situations, target of communication, and power relations between interlocutors, as well as cultural and social norms are among the most important contextual and pragmatic factors, active in preferring silence over speech. © 2015, Tarbiat Modares University. All rights reserved.
