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5 - The Metaphorical Bases of Constituency and Dependency

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 December 2024

By
András Imrényi
Edited by
Eva Duran Eppler ,
Nikolas Gisborne  and
Andrew Rosta
Eva Duran Eppler
Affiliation:
Roehampton University, London
Nikolas Gisborne
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh
Andrew Rosta
Affiliation:
University of Central Lancashire, Preston
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Summary

The paper offers a cognitive linguistic analysis of metaphors informing the conceptualization of sentence structure. In line with cognitive linguistics, it is assumed that the construal of this highly abstract conceptual domain necessarily has a metaphorical basis. Accordingly, it is argued that key differences between alternative syntactic theories can be linked to the metaphorical choices they make. The paper begins with a critical comparison of constituency- and dependency-oriented syntax. The key virtue of the latter is seen in its ability to focus on relation types rather than unit types and unit boundaries. It is then argued that THE SENTENCE IS A BUILDING serves as the core metaphor underlying constituency analysis, whereas THE SENTENCE IS A FAMILY may play a similar role in dependency grammar. The final part of the paper discusses two instructive metaphors invented by Sámuel Brassai, both supporting a dependency grammatical understanding of sentences, namely THE SENTENCE IS A FEUDAL SOCIETY and THE SENTENCE IS A SOLAR SYSTEM. It is demonstrated that each of Brassai’s metaphors has its share of advantages and may be of great service to dependency grammar in language pedagogy.

Keywords

constituencydependencyconceptual metaphorinstructive metaphor
Type
Chapter
Information
Word Grammar, Cognition and Dependency , pp. 126 - 143
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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