Cognitive Stylistics: An Introduction

Описание: Step 1: Identify Key Lexical Items
Look for:

Repeated words

Metaphorical words

Emotionally loaded words

Step 2: Identify Activated Schemas
Ask:

What experience does this word relate to?

Is it physical, emotional, cultural?

Step 3: Identify Conceptual Metaphors
Ask:

Is something abstract described in concrete terms?

Step 4: Reader Effect
Ask:

What mental image is formed?

What emotion is triggered?

6. Naming Styles in Cognitive Stylistics
Unlike traditional stylistics, cognitive stylistics names styles based on cognitive patterns, not just linguistic features.

6.1 Common Cognitive Styles
1. Metaphor-Dominant Style
Heavy use of conceptual metaphors

Abstract ideas expressed concretely

Example (English):

Grief sat beside him like an uninvited guest.

Example (Urdu):

غم اس کے پاس ایک مہمان کی طرح بیٹھا تھا۔

2. Schema-Driven Style
Relies on shared cultural knowledge

Minimal explanation

Example (English):

He packed his bag and didn’t look back.

Activates JOURNEY / ESCAPE schema

3. Embodied Style
Strong sensory language

Appeals to body-based experience

Example (Urdu):

ٹھنڈی ہوا نے اس کی جلد کو چھو لیا۔
(The cold wind touched his skin.)

4. Perspective-Oriented Style
Shifts in deixis (I, here, now)

Controls reader viewpoint

5. Emotional-Construal Style
Lexical items evaluate events emotionally

English:

That miserable afternoon changed everything.

Urdu:

وہ منحوس دوپہر سب کچھ بدل گئی۔