Language from the Body: Iconicity and Metaphor in American Sign Language - Sarah F. Taub
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The manual "Language from the Body: Iconicity and Metaphor in American Sign Language" by Sarah F. Taub, published by Cambridge University Press, provides insights into the role of meaning in linguistic theory. It delves into the influence of meaning on linguistic form, particularly in the context of signed languages.
Generative linguists have traditionally minimized the impact of meaning on language, asserting that semantics does not affect linguistic structure. In contrast, cognitivist and functionalist linguists argue that meaning is a driving force behind linguistic structure at all levels.
This manual presents evidence from signed languages, showcasing iconic linguistic elements such as words, inflections, and syntactic constructions that bear structural resemblance to their referents. These iconic elements convey both concrete and abstract meanings through conceptual metaphors, challenging the notion that form and meaning are separate.
By highlighting the presence of iconicity in signed languages, "Language from the Body" refutes the generativist linguistic theories and emphasizes the significance of a cognitivist framework where meaning can influence linguistic form.
- Author: Taub, Sarah F.
- Publisher: Cambridge University Press
- Illustration: N
- Language: ENG
- Title: Language from the Body: Iconicity and Metaphor in American Sign Language
- Pages: 00272 (Encrypted)
- On Sale: 1997-06-06
- SKU-13/ISBN: 9780521770620
Categories:
- Language Arts & Disciplines : Sign Language
- Language Arts & Disciplines : Linguistics - General
- Psychology / Cognitive Psychology & Cognition
