COGNITIVE INTEGRATION AS A METHOD OF DISCOURSE INTERPRETATION OF TENSE METAPHOR

Abstract

The paper describes the process of decoding the categorical meaning of English tense forms characterized by a complicated temporal semantics as a result of cognitive shift, due to which the form presents itself as a sign of tense metaphor. The aim of the article is to offer a mechanism of metaphorical usage interpretation of grammatical forms (or tense metaphor). This mechanism is based on the principle of mental integration or cognitive blending that enables to interpret the categorical meaning of a tense form as a blend of dual references: deictic (iconic or indexical verbal signs) and denotative (symbolic verbal signs). The analysis of temporality encoded in tense forms of a given discourse reveals the semantics of temporal signification as a result of metaphorical extension within a hyper structure of a literary text. The mechanism of deictic temporal reference operates through tense forms. The mechanism of denotative reference operates through taxis constructions creating perspectives of anteriority – posteriority type, producing temporal illusions without any connections to the real time of the world. Thus, a temporal metaphor produces an illusion of total isolation of the fictitious textual world allowing the reader to perceive the imaginary world as reality.