The way in which we understand the concept of intelligence is rooted in metaphor and metonymy; for example, it is common to describe people as 'bright' or 'thick'. This book explores the motivation for some of the lexemes in this semantic field across the history of the English language, considering the range of cognitive mechanisms and cultural factors that can inform metaphorical and metonymical mappings.

Provides a much-needed diachronic approach to theories of metaphor and metonymy within cognitive semantics, building on the work of scholars such as Geeraerts and Sweetser
Argues that a diachronic approach offers a fresh perspective which can both complement and challenge current theories of metaphor and metonymy
Explores both cognitive and cultural issues relating to motivation, and takes account of established theories of semantic change alongside recent work in cognitive linguistics
Considers three of the concepts that have been important in the way intelligence is conceptualized diachronically: the senses, density, and animals
Includes a detailed case study of these source concepts which provides a starting point for a wider discussion about the nature of mapping processes

"Natural Language Semantics" discusses fundamental concepts for linguistic semantics. This book combines theoretical explanations of several methods of inquiry with detailed semantic analysis and emphasises the philosophy that semantics is about meaning in human languages and that linguistic meaning is cognitively and functionally motivated.

Providing the reader with the basic tools and skills needed to progress to original research, this volume introduces fundamental assumptions about meaning in language, discusses lexicological semantics, and explains formal semantic tools. It reviews cognitive and functional approaches to semantics, investigates the internal semantics of clauses and turns from the semantics of predicates to the internal semantics of noun phrases. Throughout each chapter, exercises are provided to reinforce the text and facilitate learning.

In this groundbreaking collection, twelve international scholars - with backgrounds in disability studies, English and world literature, classics, and history - discuss the representation of dis/ability, medical "cures," technology, and the body in science fiction.

Road traffic represents a significant burden in the developing world and will continue to become more prominent without an effective response to the myriad problems it presents. This book provides a discussion on effective measures in safety, modelling and the impacts of road traffic on society.

In science fiction, technology often modifies, supports, and attempts to 'make normal' the disabled body. In this groundbreaking collection, twelve international scholars - with backgrounds in disability studies, English and world literature, classics, and history - discuss the representation of dis/ability, medical 'cures, ' technology, and the body in science fiction. Bringing together the fields of disability studies and science fiction, this book explores the ways dis/abled bodies use prosthetics to challenge common ideas about ability and human being, as well as proposes new understandings of what 'technology as cure' means for people with disabilities in a (post)human future.

"Natural Language Semantics" discusses fundamental concepts for linguistic semantics. This book combines theoretical explanations of several methods of inquiry with detailed semantic analysis and emphasises the philosophy that semantics is about meaning in human languages and that linguistic meaning is cognitively and functionally motivated.

Providing the reader with the basic tools and skills needed to progress to original research, this volume introduces fundamental assumptions about meaning in language, discusses lexicological semantics, and explains formal semantic tools. It reviews cognitive and functional approaches to semantics, investigates the internal semantics of clauses and turns from the semantics of predicates to the internal semantics of noun phrases. Throughout each chapter, exercises are provided to reinforce the text and facilitate learning.