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The idea that spatial cognition provides the foundation of linguistic meanings, even highly abstract meanings, has been put forward by a number of linguists in recent years. This book takes this proposal into new dimensions and develops a theoretical framework based on simple geometric principles. All speakers are conceptualisers who have a point of view both in a literal and in an abstract sense, choosing their perspective in space, time and the real world. The book examines the conceptualising properties of verbs, including tense, aspect, modality and transitivity, as well as the conceptual workings of grammatical constructions associated with counterfactuality, other minds and the expression of moral force. It makes links to the cognitive sciences throughout and concludes with a discussion of the relationship between language, brain and mind.
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Language, Space and Mind
The idea that spatial cognition provides the foundation of linguistic meanings, even highly abstract meanings, has been put forward by a number of linguists in recent years. This book takes this proposal into new dimensions and develops a theoretical framework based on simple geometric principles. All speakers are conceptualisers who have a point of view both in a literal and in an abstract sense, choosing their perspective in space, time and the real world. The book examines the conceptualising properties of verbs, including tense, aspect, modality and transitivity, as well as the conceptual workings of grammatical constructions associated with counterfactuality, other minds and the expression of moral force. It makes links to the cognitive sciences throughout, and concludes with a discussion of the relationships between language, brain and mind. p a u l c h i l t o n is Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at Lancaster University.
Language, Space and Mind The Conceptual Geometry of Linguistic Meaning Paul Chilton
University Printing House, Cambridge CB2 8BS, United Kingdom Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge. It furthers the University’s mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781107010130 © Paul Chilton 2014 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 2014 Printed in the United Kingdom by Clays, St Ives plc A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data Chilton, Paul A. (Paul Anthony) Language, space and mind : the conceptual geometry of linguistic meaning / Paul Chilton. pages cm ISBN 978-1-107-01013-0 (Hardback) 1. Space and time in language. 2. Geometry. 3. Mathematical linguistics. 4. Computational linguistics. I. Title. P37.5.S65C45 2014 4010 .9–dc23 2013047093 ISBN 978-1-107-01013-0 Hardback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
To my children, Jonathan and Emily
Contents
List of figures List of tables Preface Acknowledgements 1
2
3
4
Introduction: space, geometry, mind
1
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
2 4 7 9
Language and mind Formalisation Using geometry Space, situation and deixis
Viewpoint, reference frames and transformations
15
2.1 Physical space: prepositions, deixis and reference frames 2.2 The abstr