The semantics of motion verbs within temporal conceptualization in English and Spanishunderstanding spatial dynamic construals of time

Abstract

The overarching objective of this thesis is to illuminate the breadth and variability of verbs utilized to conceptualize time in metaphorically framed temporal expressions grounded in real-world contexts This exploration aims to conduct an extensive corpus-based investigation into the roles and meanings that motion verbs assume when deployed to articulate time in metaphorical terms within English and Spanish. Specifically, this main objective encompasses the following aims: A. Determine the range and variability of motion verbs employed to conceptualize time in metaphorical temporal expressions within authentic scenarios. B. Identify the type of specific spatial information conveyed by these motion verbs. C. Analyze and elucidate the contribution of this spatial information to the conceptualization of the temporal event. Through a meticulous examination of English and Spanish, languages representing distinct typological groups, this study not only sheds light on linguistic diversity but also offers insights into the shared cognitive mechanisms underlying temporal conceptualization. The significance of this research lies in its potential to bridge gaps in our understanding of metaphorical language use, contributing to the broader discourse on cognition, communication, and creativity. The dataset utilized in this study has been sourced from the UCLA NewsScape Library of International Television News. This audiovisual repository, hosted at the Library of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), is developed by The International Distributed Little Red Hen Lab™. The Red Hen Lab serves as a global big data science laboratory and cooperative for research into multimodal communication. It facilitates collaboration among scholars worldwide, leveraging diverse resources, skills, and theoretical backgrounds to address complex questions of multimodality. The NewsScape Library comprises nearly 500,000 hours of TV programs, recording several hundred hours weekly from numerous stations in nearly 20 languages, making it a comprehensive resource for multimodal analysis. In order to perform complex linguistic searches in NewsScape the corpus query processor CQPweb was used. CQPweb provides users with the capability to formulate queries using the Corpus Query Language (CQL). This allows for precise and sophisticated querying of linguistic data, enhancing the analysis process. Due to the unavailability of CQPweb for Spanish data from the NewsScape archive at the start of this project, the methodology of this study also includes the construction process of a Spanish CQPweb to complement its English counterpart, ensuring transparency and replicability for future research. Thorough documentation of this process affirms the reliability and transparency of the methodology employed in this research endeavor. The study's conclusions reveal a rich diversity in the use of motion verbs to metaphorically express time, with distinct patterns observed in English and Spanish. English exhibits a broader range of manner verbs, aligning with its satellite-framed typology. Conversely, Spanish demonstrates a preference for path verbs, reflecting its verb-framed lexicalization pattern, where the trajectory of movement is central. Despite these typological differences, regarding tokens both languages show a prevalence of path verbs in temporal expressions, suggesting a universal schema conceptualizing time as a spatial journey. Furthermore, the lexical choices for path verbs indicate a cognitive bias towards viewing time as a trajectory or journey with a defined direction. Experimental studies underscored the connection between the speed of perceived time and emotional experiences, highlighting the nuanced interplay between motion verbs and temporal perceptions. English speakers, particularly in emotionally significant contexts, favored manner verbs, suggesting a linguistic strategy to convey subjective temporal experiences. These findings deepen our understanding of how metaphorical language, especially regarding motion, shapes temporal cognition and emotional experiences, advancing cognitive linguistics by illustrating the dynamic process of meaning construction across conceptual domains.