Abstract
Emotions can be viewed as abstract cognitive events without an external reference object. They are cognitive relations in the sense that they consist of two or more primarily autonomous events, which are set in relation to each other. Accordingly, their conceptual structure is relatively complex, and it can be of diverse nature. This is reflected in a broad variety of lexicalisation patterns, both within and across languages. The significance of emotions for human interaction and their complexity is reflected in the rich inventory of emotion terms in many cultures. Their processing in a second or foreign language requires conceptual restructuring, making high demands on the learner’s cognitive abilities. The processing of emotion terminology can therefore provide interesting information about the cognitive organisation of conceptual and linguistic knowledge.
Recommended Citation
Herwig, Anne
(2006)
"The Conceptual Structure of Negative Emotions Revealed by Shocking, Annoying, and Scary Examples of Lexical Processing,"
The ITB Journal:
Vol. 7:
Iss.
2, Article 3.
doi:10.21427/D7G45T
Available at:
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/itbj/vol7/iss2/3
DOI
10.21427/D7G45T