Semantic change as a process of conceptual blending

Marcin Grygiel | University of Rzeszow

The purpose of the paper is to present a new approach to semantic change where meaning alteration is perceived as a by-product of conceptual blending processes and diachronic structures are argued to possess the same characteristics as their synchronic counterparts. Thus, traditionally considered a subject of historical linguistics studiesparexcellence – semantic change – can be understood as conventionalisation of context-dependent modification of usage. The paper examines selected cases of changes in meaning pertaining to the semantic domain BOY and seeks the basis for their explanation in the blending operations of meaning construction. From this perspective, semantic change appears as a natural consequence of language usage directly related to cognitive processing.

Keywords: conceptual blending, semantic structure, conceptual integration network, on-line meaning construction, semantic change

Published online: 11 January 2005
https://doi.org/10.1075/arcl.2.10gry

Cited by

Cited by 4 other publications

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2018. In The Poetics of Time – Metaphors and Blends in Language and Literature [Figurative Thought and Language, 3],

Dingfang, Shu

2009. Cognitive Approaches to Lexical Semantics. Language and Linguistics Compass 3:1 ► pp. 314 ff.

Janssen, Diederik F.

2007. BOY. Boyhood Studies 1:1 ► pp. 43 ff.

Wong, May L-Y

2021. Conceptual Blending and Slang Expressions in Hong Kong Cantonese. Studies in Chinese Linguistics 42:1 ► pp. 97 ff.

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