The vertical axis. Lecture 5

Transcription

1 The vertical axis Lecture 5

2 The vertical axis Some proto-scenes privilege certain orientational axes or dimensions (Langacker, 1987; Talmy, 2000) The sets of the vertical axis: (1) over, under, above and below and (2) up and down it does not mean that all spatial particles prompt for a vertical or horizontal orientation - in and out of

3 the nature of human physiology physical top erect posture primary sense organs

4 over, above, under and below this subset of spatial particles acts as a contrast set the vertical axis can be divided into four distinct spatial locations proto-scenes for English spatial particles involve both a functional component and a conceptualspatial configuration between a TR and a LM

5 A contrast set of spatial particles A contrast set relates two (or more) spatial particles. They may form a system of meanings that are understood (and have developed) in terms of other members of the contrast set. It does not follow that contrast partners can be considered to be straightforwardly or simplistically oppositional.

6 Above versus over Above is related to the same Sanskrit root, 'upari', as over. In Anglo-Saxon, the antecedent of over was ufa, the comparative form of above. In Gothic, be + fan was interpreted roughly as 'being in an up position.

7 Many previous accounts have suggested that over and above are synonyms. TR is higher than a LM a. The picture is above the mantel b. The picture is over the mantel Lakoff (1987) states that the Higher-than Sense of over is roughly equivalent in meaning to above.

8 a. The maid hung the jacket over the back of the chair b. The maid hung the jacket above the back of the chair In (a) the TR is conceptualized as being higher than but crucially in contact with the chair. In (b) contact between the TR and LM is excluded.

9 it is the functional element that distinguishes these two particles The functional element of over s protoscene is that the TR is within potential reach of the LM. The fictional element associated with above emphasizes an unbridgeable distance between the TR and the LM.

10 Figure 5.1 diagrams the proto-scene for above the TR is the dark sphere the LM as the bold line the dashed line distinguishes the spatial region that is conceptualized as being proximal to the LM

11 a. Nora twirled over the polished floor b. Nora twirled above the polished floor In (a), the TR, Nora, uses the polished floor as a surface upon which to twirl. In (b), the TR, Nora, refers to some fantastical creature, perhaps a fairy, capable of dancing in the air without actually touching the floor.

12 Above excludes the potential for TR/LM contact. Over has a potential for contact as a central part of the interpretation. Go back to a. The picture is above the mantel. b. The picture is over the mantel.

13 If there is no contact between the TR and the LM the speaker has a choice b/n the two spatial particles the choice depends on how the speaker construes the physical distance between the TR and the LM

14 The semantic network for above 3. Next-one-up 4. Topographical-distance Figure 5.2 The semantic 4 distinct senses meaning is embodied the most salient elements in our environment are those that we are close to or in potential contact with network for above

15 The Up Cluster (2) being higher than another entity is experienced as being positive in some way this cluster has two distinct senses: the More Sense and the Superior Sense

16 The More Sense (2.A) there is an experiential correlation between quantity and vertical elevation an increase in vertical elevation is frequently correlated with an increase in amount

17 a distinct sense of above - no objective sense of physicality or of vertical elevation The price of that stock is now above $20. TR & LM - non-physical entities/concepts the stock price is more than $20

18 The temperature rose to above 100. the experiential correlation between greater quantity and vertical elevation measuring systems that 'count' quantity are often conceptualized as vertical systems

19 The Superior Sense (2.B) Ex. in combat being vertically elevated is being superior in some way an advantageous position - a better vantage point such a location can be more easily defended

20 There is a correlation between being physically taller and physical superiority. the taller, larger person is often the one who will win in physical combat the person who is left standing, in the vertically up position, is the winner in many physical contests

21 the Superior Sense - an individual's relative status within a hierarchical organization such as a company or a social system He's above me in the company the TR, he, is not physically higher than the LM, me the TR, he, is superior to the LM, me, in some way He's over me in the company this example provides a control reading because of the functional element of 'not within potential reach' associated with above

22 Under and below the TR is conceptualized as being lower than the LM they mirror the divisions of the vertical axis higher than the LM represented by over and above

23 Figure 5.3 provides the proto-scene for under the region of potential contact is between the LM and the dashed line Parallel to over a conceptual spatialfunctional relation between a TR and a LM the TR is lower than and yet proximal to the LM

24 Figure 5.4 gives the proto-scene for below the TR and LM are not in potential contact Parallel to above a relation in that the TR is lower than and distal with respect to the LM the possibility of contact between the TR-LM is (largely) precluded

25 a.?the valley is far under the tallest peak b. The valley is far below the tallest peak the TR and LM are distant from each other under denotes a proximal relation under is infelicitous in spatial scenes involving great distance between the TR and LM below precludes proximity and hence provides the best fit to indicate a distal relation between the TR and the LM

26 The life jacket is kept under the seat The nurse deftly slipped the pillow under the patient's head In a. the TR, the life jacket, is not necessarily in contact with the seat, but is in proximity to it In b. the interpretation is that the TR is in contact with the LM

27 Similarly to over and above, if there is no contact and no emphasis or assumption of an unbridgeable distance, the choice of either form is acceptable. The life jacket is kept below the seat acceptable??the nurse slipped the pillow below the patient's head less felicitous

28 The semantic network for under Under is analogous to over - the TR is proximal to, and hence in potential contact with, the LM the patterns found with over are to some extent repeated with under the semantic network associated with under is far less extensive than that of over - objects and entities which are higher are often more accessible

29 2.A Less 2. В Control 3. Covering 4. Non-existence Figure 5.5 Semantic network tor under

30 The Down Cluster (2) the mirror of the Up Cluster for over a TR that is lower than the LM implicates less a TR that is within potential reach of the LM can be conceptualized as being subject to the control of the LM

31 The Less Sense (2.A) The government decided to leave out incomes under $4,000. we do not conventionally understand that there is a spatial relation Sorry, you can't drink here if you're under 21. It's impossible to run the marathon in under one hour. than under has a conventional meaning of less or having less of something

32 The Control Sense (2.B) The boy had trapped the fly under his hand. the TR is physically lower than and within potential contact with the LM the TR, the fly, being located under the LM, his hand the boy has the fly in his control

33 George works under his father's close supervision at the family business. George is not physically lower than his father. George's actions at work are scrutinized and controlled by his father. He was caught driving under the influence of alcohol. We're under contract. They put her under general anaesthetic. Philip felt himself under obligation to attend the new boss's party.

34 Two additional senses The Covering Sense (3) My diary is somewhere under all this paperwork. < > TR is physically lower than the LM the papers are covering the diary and obscuring it from the speaker's line of vision a consequence of adopting a certain vantage point on a spatial scene

35 He hid his yawn under a cough. The Germans often bombed London under the cover of darkness. these relate to nonphysical entities there is no contextually available means of predicting a reading of Covering

36 The Non-existence Sense (4) The business went under. the business no longer exists this interpretation cannot be derived from the context the business is a non-physical entity

37 The semantic network for below 2.A Less 2. Up 3. Next-one-down 4. Topographical Distance above is its contrast partner below denotes a conceptual spatialfunctional relation in which there is no possibility of contact between the TR and the LM Figure 5.6 Semantic network for below

38 The Less Sense (2.A) a.the temperature dropped below freezing. b. The European stock markets fell below their lowest levels for half a century. motivated by the tight correlation in experience between quantity and vertical elevation when an entity is vertically lower, there is less quantity derived from spatial scenes such as Ian's head was still below the mark made for his brother when he was twelve.

39 The Inferior Sense being lower => having less quantity having less quantity => being in a disadvantaged position being in a disadvantaged position inferior situation I don't interact with Alan much, as he is below me in the law firm. => an

40 Conclusion: the semantics of verticality each of the four particles considered selects a slightly different range within the vertical axis we cannot pinpoint metrical conditions for determining when a relation is over rather than above or under rather than below there are elements of subjectivity in what can count as proximal or distal

41 Figure 5.7 provides a summary of how the vertical axis in English is segmented: Above Over Under Below the human conceptual system for space does not deal in metric distances rather in conceptually flexible judgments which are well motivated and systematic