COGNITIVE LINGUISTICS AND MEANING CONSTRUCTION IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Keywords:
cognitive linguistics; meaning construction; conceptual metaphor; image schemas; frame semantics; embodied cognition; English communicationAbstract
This extended study investigates the role of cognitive linguistics in shaping meaning construction within English communication. Unlike traditional structuralist paradigms that treat meaning as a fixed property of words and sentences, cognitive linguistics emphasizes the dynamic, embodied, and context-dependent nature of meaning. Through an in-depth analysis of conceptual metaphors, image schemas, and frame semantics, this paper demonstrates how English speakers actively construct meaning by mapping abstract concepts onto concrete experiential domains. The research highlights how metaphorical language, cultural frames, and embodied cognition influence interpretation in everyday discourse, literature, and professional communication. By integrating theoretical perspectives with authentic discourse examples, the study argues for the inclusion of cognitive linguistic principles in modern pedagogy to enhance learners’ semantic awareness, figurative competence, and intercultural adaptability.
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