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Macau Periodical Index (澳門期刊論文索引)
- Author
- Lin, Zi-yu
- Title
- The cognitive and neural basis of language and inter-language communication : enlightenment from the Cantonese verb (Understand)
- Journal Name
- 粵語研究
- Pub. Info
- 2013年6月, 第13期, 第31-36頁
- Keyword
- Metaphor；metony；my neural circuit；明；understand；Cantonese
- Abstract
- Abstract : In view of developments in cognitive linguistics and neural theory of language, this research attempts to explain the rationale why the Chinese character 明 in Cantonese may mean to "understand," as in "你明唔明？"(Do you understand). The author argues that the mechanisms for such semantic extension include metonymy and metaphor, which are found to exist as neural circuits connecting different neuron groups in the brain. In addition, from 明 (light) to "understand", the author argues that there must be such a metonymical chain as LIGHT→SEE→THINK→UNDERSTAND. Cross-linguistically, this chain seems to be valid too, as in English, where words like "bright," "clear," and "brilliant," which can mean such cognitive characteristics as "intelligent," and "understanding," are also related to right. Paragraph Headings： 1. Introduction 2. Some related concepts of cognitive lingustics 3. Back to the Cantonese 明 (understand) 4. Conclusion Figures: 1. A Neural circuit 2. Simulated neural circuits 3. Metonymical relations between LIGHT and UNDERSTANDING