The methodology of cognitive discourse analysis is introduced in this book by focusing on eight key areas of analysis. It provides readers new to the subject with simple techniques and tools, whilst allowing more experienced researchers to understand the principles quickly and adapt them for their own purposes.
Does temporal language depend on spatial language? This widely held view is appealing since spatial and temporal expressions often overlap. Metaphors frequently convey temporal concepts using spatial terms, indicating a close semantic relationship. However, how do these linguistic expressions function in natural discourse? The book explores terms that describe the relationships of objects or events (e.g., in front/behind, before/after), emphasizing the connection between cognition and language use. Employing cognitively motivated discourse analysis, it presents new empirical findings to enhance previous research. The investigation of selected terms reveals both similarities and significant differences in their application, leading to a nuanced understanding: concepts of space and time are systematically represented in language, reflecting our worldview while also highlighting fundamental differences in our understanding of these concepts. This work contributes to a long-standing debate among cognitive linguists regarding the transfer processes between these intertwined domains. It uniquely addresses how these processes manifest in the actual use of relevant expressions in discourse. By integrating established Discourse Analysis approaches with interdisciplinary insights from Cognitive Science, the book offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between space and time and their linguistic expression.
This book considers how people talk about their environment, find their way in new surroundings, and plan routes. Leading scholars and researchers in psychology, linguistics, computer science, and geography show how empirical research can be used to inform formal approaches towards the development of intuitive assistance systems. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1: Thora Tenbrink, Jan Wiener, and Christophe Claramunt: Introduction Part I: Empirical Insights 2: Holly Taylor and Tad T. Brunyé: Describing the Way Out of a Cornfield: Understanding congitive underpinnings of comprehending survey and route descriptions 3: Marios Avraamides, Catherine Mello, and Nathan Greenauer: Spatial Representations for Described and Perceived Locations 4: Michel Denis and Gilles Fernandez: The Processing of Landmarks in Route Directions Part II: Computational Models 5: Michael Barclay and Antony Galton: Selection of Reference Objectives for Locative Expressions: The importance of knowledge and perception 6: Eric Chown: Spatial prototypes 7: Parisa Kordjamshidi, Joana Hois, Martijn van Otterlo, and Marie-Francine Moens: Learning to Interpret Spatial Natural Language in Terms of Qualitative Spatial Relations Part III: Intuitive Assistance 8: Inessa Seifert and Thora Tenbrink: Cognitive Operations in Tour Planning 9: mathieu Gallay, Michel Denis, and Malika Auvray: Navigation Assistance for Blind Pedestrians: Guidelines for the design of devices and implications for spatial cognition 10: Nhung Nguyen and Ipke Wachsmuth: A Computational Model of Cooperative Spatial Behaviour for Virtual Humans 11: Mehul Bhatt, Carl Schultz, and Christian Freksa: The 'Space' in Spatial Assistance Systems: Conception, formalisation, and computation