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Conceptual knowledge in the interpretation of idioms
1Program in Experimental Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz 95064.
Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
|September 1, 1990
Summary
People understand idioms better when they fit a conceptual prototype and temporal sequence. Lexical and conceptual information, including underlying metaphors, aids idiom comprehension and contextual appropriateness.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Linguistics
- Psycholinguistics
Background:
- Idioms present a challenge for language comprehension due to their non-literal meanings.
- Understanding contextual appropriateness is crucial for effective communication using idiomatic expressions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cognitive mechanisms underlying the judgment of idiomatic appropriateness.
- To explore the role of conceptual structure, temporal sequencing, and metaphor in idiom processing.
Main Methods:
- Six experiments were conducted using behavioral measures.
- Participants judged idiom similarity, meaningfulness, and appropriateness in various contexts.
- Processing speed and the recovery of conceptual metaphors were also assessed.
Main Results:
- Idioms sharing temporal stages of a conceptual prototype were perceived as more similar.
- Prototypical temporal sequences enhanced idiom meaningfulness compared to violated sequences.
- Conceptual coherence and metaphoric information in idioms facilitated processing and appropriateness judgments.
Conclusions:
- Idiom comprehension relies on aligning figurative language with conceptual prototypes and temporal schemas.
- The lexical form of idioms carries metaphoric information that influences their contextual appropriateness.
- Cognitive processes involve recovering underlying conceptual metaphors to interpret idioms effectively.