Synaesthesia: A Cognitive Perspective

The thesis studies the phenomenon of synaesthetic metaphors which entail transfers between perceptual domains. The author first examines briefly the multidisciplinary study on strong synaesthesia (referring to the real co-sensation) and weak synaesthesia (referring to the intersensory associations), and discusses their relationships. From the discussion, it is concluded that synaesthetic metaphors (which is another name for weak synaesthesia) may have some neural and psychological underpinnings. Then, drawing on three theories in cognitive linguistics, namely Lakoff and Johnson's Embodied Philosophy, Grady's Primary Metaphor Theory, and Fauconnier and Turner's Blending Theory, the author enquires into the nature of synaesthetic metaphors and comes to three important conclusions as follows. (1) Synaesthetic metaphors are neurally and phenomenologically embodied. (2) They are Primary Metaphors. (3) Their processes of meaning construction are dynamic processes of conceptual integration.