A cognitive analysis of three English frangmentation verbs
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Universidad de La Rioja
info
ISSN: 1133-0392
Year of publication: 2003
Issue: 11
Pages: 7-28
Type: Article
More publications in: Estudios ingleses de la Universidad Complutense
Abstract
This paper provides a detailed analysis of three closely related fragmentation verbs in English (dissipate, disintegrate, and dissolve) from the perspective of Cognitive semantics. Special emphasis is placed on the conceptual modelling structures, above all metaphoric and metonymic mappings, which underlie the polysemy of these verbs. The three verbs under study share a common image-schematic basis, linked to the physical notion o fragmentation, and a basic pattern of metaphorical extension. However, it is argued that the different lower-level scenarios typically associated with each verb seem to motivate the existence of partly divergent metaphoric...