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Perception Metaphors
Edited by Laura J. Speed, Carolyn O'Meara, Lila San Roque and Asifa Majid
[Converging Evidence in Language and Communication Research 19] 2019
► pp. 347–368

Chapter 17
Perception verbs in context

Perspectives from Kaluli (Bosavi) child-caregiver interaction

Perceptual language is a rich site of polysemous meaning and pragmatic extension. In this chapter, we explore the question of how children learning a language come to grips with this complexity, focusing on basic perception verbs as used in child-caregiver interaction in the language Bosavi, spoken in Papua New Guinea. We discuss creative and routinised instances of perception verb use in these interactions, and comment on connections to recognised cross-linguistic patterns of polysemy. Finally, we suggest ways that Christian missionisation and literacy practices may have influenced shifting uses of the language of sight and audition in the Bosavi context.

Keywords: polysemy, language socialisation, Papua New Guinea
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Language background
  • 3.Sight
  • 4.Hearing
  • 5.Touch
  • 6.Taste and smell
  • 7.Summary and coda
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 21 February 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/celcr.19.17san
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