Introduction to Cognitive

Semantics
Cognitive Semantics is the study of how language and meaning are grounded in
human conceptual and experiential knowledge. It examines the relationship
between language, thought, and embodied experience.

by Celine Dhara Grace Bernales

What is Cognitive Semantics?
Meaning Construction
Cognitive Semantics focuses
on how people construct
meaning through conceptual
and experiential processes,
rather than just examining
formal linguistic structures.
Embodied Approach
It views language and
meaning as grounded in the
human body, senses, and
physical and social
interactions with the world.
Conceptual Structures
Cognitive Semantics explores
the conceptual structures,
such as frames, metaphors,
and mental spaces, that
underlie linguistic meaning.
Key Principles of Cognitive Semantics

1 Conceptual Structure 2 Embodiment

Language reflects and is grounded in human Meaning is based on our bodily experiences
conceptual structure, not just formal rules. and interactions with the world.

3 Constructive 4 Contextual
Meaning is actively constructed through Language meaning is highly dependent on the
cognitive processes, not just retrieved from a broader context and background knowledge.
mental dictionary.
Conceptual Metaphor Theory
Core Idea
Conceptual metaphor theory
proposes that much of our
abstract thinking is structured by
metaphorical mappings from
more concrete, embodied
experiences.
Examples
Common conceptual metaphors
include "TIME IS MONEY",
"LOVE IS A JOURNEY", and
"ARGUMENT IS WAR".
Significance
Conceptual metaphors shape our
reasoning, behavior, and
language in profound ways,
revealing the embodied and
experiential basis of meaning.
Conceptual Blending
1 Input Spaces
Conceptual blending theory proposes that we construct new meanings by selectively
combining elements from two or more mental input spaces.

2 Blending
The blended space emerges with novel structure that goes beyond the input spaces,
allowing for creative and imaginative thinking.

3 Emergent Structure
The blended space can take on its own unique meaning and properties that were not
present in the original input spaces.
Embodied Cognition
Grounded in the Body Situated Cognition
Embodied cognition posits that our understanding Cognitive processes are situated in the physical
of the world is shaped by our physical bodies and and social contexts in which they occur, not just in
sensorimotor experiences. the mind.

Ecological Approach Simulation and Metaphor

Embodied cognition views the mind, body, and Our conceptual understanding often relies on
environment as an integrated, dynamic system for mental simulations and metaphorical mappings
meaning-making. grounded in bodily experience.
Semantic Frames and Domains
Semantic Frames
Cognitive Semantics examines
how language is structured
around conceptual frames -
schematic representations of
situations, events, or
experiences.
Semantic Domains
It also explores how language is
organized into broader semantic
domains, such as time, space,
causation, and social interaction.
Interrelationships
The interplay between frames
and domains is central to how
we construct and understand
linguistic meaning.
Applications of Cognitive Semantics

Language Education Marketing Artificial

Analysis Intelligence
It can inform Insights from Cognitive
Cognitive Semantics pedagogical approaches Semantics can be It can contribute to the
can shed light on how and improve language applied to effective development of more
language reflects and learning and communication and human-like natural
shapes conceptual comprehension. persuasion. language processing
structure. systems.