Does Embodiment of Verbs Influence Predicate Metaphor Processing in a Second Language? Evidence From Picture Priming
Distinct from nominal metaphors, predicate metaphors entail metaphorical abstraction from concrete verbs, which generally involve more action and stronger motor simulation than nouns. It remains unclear whether and how the concrete, embodied aspects of verbs are connected with abstract, disembodied...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.759175/full |
| _version_ | 1818822340890329088 |
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| author | Yin Feng Yin Feng Rong Zhou Rong Zhou |
| author_facet | Yin Feng Yin Feng Rong Zhou Rong Zhou |
| author_sort | Yin Feng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Distinct from nominal metaphors, predicate metaphors entail metaphorical abstraction from concrete verbs, which generally involve more action and stronger motor simulation than nouns. It remains unclear whether and how the concrete, embodied aspects of verbs are connected with abstract, disembodied thinking in the brains of L2 learners. Since English predicate metaphors are unfamiliar to Chinese L2 learners, the study of embodiment effect on English predicate metaphor processing may provide new evidence for embodied cognition and categorization models that remain controversial, and offer practical insights into L2 metaphor processing and pedagogy. Hence, we aim to investigate whether the embodiment of verbs, via the activation of sensorimotor information, influences two groups of L2 learners during their comprehension of conventional and novel predicate metaphors. The results show a significant effect of embodiment: a stronger facilitation for novel predicate metaphors in both higher-level and lower-level groups, and a weaker facilitation for conventional predicate metaphors in the lower-level group. The findings demonstrate preliminary evidence for a graded effect of embodiment on predicate metaphors processing, modulated by L2 proficiency and metaphor novelty. The study supports a hybrid view of embodied cognition and reveals that sensorimotor aspects of verbs may be the intermediate entity involved in the indirect categorization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:22:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb0a5277ec5949879a225059666bfc66 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:22:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb0a5277ec5949879a225059666bfc662022-12-21T20:47:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782021-11-011210.3389/fpsyg.2021.759175759175Does Embodiment of Verbs Influence Predicate Metaphor Processing in a Second Language? Evidence From Picture PrimingYin Feng0Yin Feng1Rong Zhou2Rong Zhou3School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, ChinaCenter for Language Cognition and Assessment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, ChinaCenter for Language Cognition and Assessment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, ChinaDistinct from nominal metaphors, predicate metaphors entail metaphorical abstraction from concrete verbs, which generally involve more action and stronger motor simulation than nouns. It remains unclear whether and how the concrete, embodied aspects of verbs are connected with abstract, disembodied thinking in the brains of L2 learners. Since English predicate metaphors are unfamiliar to Chinese L2 learners, the study of embodiment effect on English predicate metaphor processing may provide new evidence for embodied cognition and categorization models that remain controversial, and offer practical insights into L2 metaphor processing and pedagogy. Hence, we aim to investigate whether the embodiment of verbs, via the activation of sensorimotor information, influences two groups of L2 learners during their comprehension of conventional and novel predicate metaphors. The results show a significant effect of embodiment: a stronger facilitation for novel predicate metaphors in both higher-level and lower-level groups, and a weaker facilitation for conventional predicate metaphors in the lower-level group. The findings demonstrate preliminary evidence for a graded effect of embodiment on predicate metaphors processing, modulated by L2 proficiency and metaphor novelty. The study supports a hybrid view of embodied cognition and reveals that sensorimotor aspects of verbs may be the intermediate entity involved in the indirect categorization.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.759175/fullpredicate metaphorembodimentsensorimotorL2 proficiencymetaphor noveltyindirect categorization |
| spellingShingle | Yin Feng Yin Feng Rong Zhou Rong Zhou Does Embodiment of Verbs Influence Predicate Metaphor Processing in a Second Language? Evidence From Picture Priming Frontiers in Psychology predicate metaphor embodiment sensorimotor L2 proficiency metaphor novelty indirect categorization |
| title | Does Embodiment of Verbs Influence Predicate Metaphor Processing in a Second Language? Evidence From Picture Priming |
| title_full | Does Embodiment of Verbs Influence Predicate Metaphor Processing in a Second Language? Evidence From Picture Priming |
| title_fullStr | Does Embodiment of Verbs Influence Predicate Metaphor Processing in a Second Language? Evidence From Picture Priming |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Embodiment of Verbs Influence Predicate Metaphor Processing in a Second Language? Evidence From Picture Priming |
| title_short | Does Embodiment of Verbs Influence Predicate Metaphor Processing in a Second Language? Evidence From Picture Priming |
| title_sort | does embodiment of verbs influence predicate metaphor processing in a second language evidence from picture priming |
| topic | predicate metaphor embodiment sensorimotor L2 proficiency metaphor novelty indirect categorization |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.759175/full |
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