23 Affective meaning in language
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Cristina Soriano
Abstract
Affective meaning is pervasive in language. In this chapter we discuss its presence at multiple levels of linguistic analysis, with special attention to the lexicon. In a first introduction to the phenomenon, we explain and illustrate two types of affective meaning (denotative and connotative) and three ways to account for it (categorical, dimensional and feature-based approaches) transversal to all levels of analysis. We then illustrate how affect is communicated in phonology, morphology, the lexicon, and syntax, with examples from different languages. The discussion of the lexicon is further organized around two variables: (a) the word’s grammatical class, where we discuss emotion concepts such as nouns (e.g., joy), verbs (e.g., to embarrass), adjectives (e.g., sad) and adverbs (e.g., surprisingly); and (b) the word’s figurativeness, where we analyze affective meaning in literal (e.g. to rage) and figurative expressions (e.g., to erupt) and discuss the privileged link between figurative language and emotion.
Abstract
Affective meaning is pervasive in language. In this chapter we discuss its presence at multiple levels of linguistic analysis, with special attention to the lexicon. In a first introduction to the phenomenon, we explain and illustrate two types of affective meaning (denotative and connotative) and three ways to account for it (categorical, dimensional and feature-based approaches) transversal to all levels of analysis. We then illustrate how affect is communicated in phonology, morphology, the lexicon, and syntax, with examples from different languages. The discussion of the lexicon is further organized around two variables: (a) the word’s grammatical class, where we discuss emotion concepts such as nouns (e.g., joy), verbs (e.g., to embarrass), adjectives (e.g., sad) and adverbs (e.g., surprisingly); and (b) the word’s figurativeness, where we analyze affective meaning in literal (e.g. to rage) and figurative expressions (e.g., to erupt) and discuss the privileged link between figurative language and emotion.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- Introduction xvii
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A Emotion Research – General Aspects
- 1 A survey of emotion theories and their relevance to language research 1
-
I Affective sciences: Theories of emotion and their linguistic relevance
- 2 Language and emotion in the history of linguistics 31
- 3 Emotion and language in philosophy 54
- 4 Anthropological theories of emotion 73
- 5 Linguistic theories of emotion 84
- 6 Psychological theories of emotion and their relationship with language 103
- 7 Cognitive approaches to emotion and semantics 147
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II Methods of emotion research and their linguistic relevance
- 8 Qualitative methods 163
- 9 Quantitative and behavioral studies 183
- 10 Quantitative and physiological measures 201
- 11 Linguistic data resources for computational emotion sensing and modeling 226
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B Perspectives in Semiotics, Linguistics, and Communication Theory
- 12 A survey of language-based approaches and their relation to emotions 253
-
III Language history and language change
- 13 Historical aspects of linguistic and emotional changes 281
- 14 Expressions of emotion and linguistic change 302
- 15 Historical semantic and linguistic history of thinking 324
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IV Semiotics of emotion
- 16 Semiotic conceptions of emotion 341
- 17 Multimodality, facial expression, and emotional language 364
- 18 Emotion and communication design 385
- 19 Emotion, colour, and language 403
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V Grammatical dimensions of emotion research
- 20 Morphology and emotion 423
- 21 Interjections and other emotional communicative acts 442
- 22 Morphosyntactic structure and emotion 472
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VI Semantics and the expression of emotion
- 23 Affective meaning in language 489
- 24 Vocabulary of emotions and its development in English, German and other languages 511
- 25 The use of emotion lexicon in emotion research 532
- 26 Emotions and figurative language 549
- 27 Studying emotion effects in language 570
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VII Language action and the processing of emotion
- 28 Pragmatics and emotions in social contexts 589
- 29 Rhetoric, stylistics, and emotion 606
- 30 Deception and emotion 636
- 31 Apologies, forgiveness and the social perception of emotions 650
- 32 The pragmatics of emotion, argument and conflict 664
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- Introduction xvii
-
A Emotion Research – General Aspects
- 1 A survey of emotion theories and their relevance to language research 1
-
I Affective sciences: Theories of emotion and their linguistic relevance
- 2 Language and emotion in the history of linguistics 31
- 3 Emotion and language in philosophy 54
- 4 Anthropological theories of emotion 73
- 5 Linguistic theories of emotion 84
- 6 Psychological theories of emotion and their relationship with language 103
- 7 Cognitive approaches to emotion and semantics 147
-
II Methods of emotion research and their linguistic relevance
- 8 Qualitative methods 163
- 9 Quantitative and behavioral studies 183
- 10 Quantitative and physiological measures 201
- 11 Linguistic data resources for computational emotion sensing and modeling 226
-
B Perspectives in Semiotics, Linguistics, and Communication Theory
- 12 A survey of language-based approaches and their relation to emotions 253
-
III Language history and language change
- 13 Historical aspects of linguistic and emotional changes 281
- 14 Expressions of emotion and linguistic change 302
- 15 Historical semantic and linguistic history of thinking 324
-
IV Semiotics of emotion
- 16 Semiotic conceptions of emotion 341
- 17 Multimodality, facial expression, and emotional language 364
- 18 Emotion and communication design 385
- 19 Emotion, colour, and language 403
-
V Grammatical dimensions of emotion research
- 20 Morphology and emotion 423
- 21 Interjections and other emotional communicative acts 442
- 22 Morphosyntactic structure and emotion 472
-
VI Semantics and the expression of emotion
- 23 Affective meaning in language 489
- 24 Vocabulary of emotions and its development in English, German and other languages 511
- 25 The use of emotion lexicon in emotion research 532
- 26 Emotions and figurative language 549
- 27 Studying emotion effects in language 570
-
VII Language action and the processing of emotion
- 28 Pragmatics and emotions in social contexts 589
- 29 Rhetoric, stylistics, and emotion 606
- 30 Deception and emotion 636
- 31 Apologies, forgiveness and the social perception of emotions 650
- 32 The pragmatics of emotion, argument and conflict 664
