Allusion Interpretation Using the Mental Space Theory (by the Material of the English Language)

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to apply the mental space theory to the interpretation of allusion in the text of Charles Lamb’s essay “A Chapter on Ears” (1823). The paper focuses on the fact that allusion is a dynamic structure of knowledge; it acts as a mental representation of the corresponding fragment of the surrounding reality in the text (discourse). Therefore, it seems reasonable to consider the process of allusion interpretation as a cognitive-discursive model based on the interaction of the mental spaces of the pretext and the allusive (recipient) text. Scientific novelty of the study lies in applying the mental space theory to the process of allusion interpretation based on the text of a XIX-century English essay. As a result of the study, it has been determined that methods of conceptual integration can be effectively used in allusion interpretation.

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About this article

Publication history

• Received: September 6, 2022.
• Published: October 10, 2022.

Keywords

• ментальные пространства
• концептуальная интеграция
• аллюзия
• претекст
• mental spaces
• conceptual integration
• allusion
• pretext

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