A Study On The Cognitive Mechanisms Of The Major Images In Song Ci By Li Qingzhao From The Perspective Of Conceptual Integration Networks

Fauconnier & Turner (2002) contend that Conceptual Integration Theory plays a decisive role in human thought and action. The mechanism of 'background cognition' can account for the way in which language users understand particular expressions or images. Therefore, the thesis attempts to apply the Conceptual Integration Networks to investigate the major images in Song Ci by Li Qingzhao through the case studies. In terms of Cognitive Linguistics, we can get a better understanding of the cognition processes on the major images by Li Qingzhao. At the same time, it also offers an alternative perspective to interpret the image in Song Ci.In order to expound the cognitive mechanisms of major images in Song Ci by Li Qingzhao, the author has chosen seven major images as the research objects. These images come from six pieces of poems in Song Ci by Li Qingzhao collection as data for analysis. And the application of Conceptual Integration Networks is to be analyzed in seven aspects: Input Spaces, the Generic Space, the Blend Space, Cross-space Mapping, Selective Projection, Emergent Structure and the Compression of Vital Relations. Then, those major images are classified according to the Organizing Frame and the working definition of the image. As the data analyses suggest, the cognitive mechanisms mainly involve three types of networks: Mirror Networks, Single-Scope Networks and Double-Scope Networks. Moreover, the hidden cognitive processes of major images in Song Ci by Li Qingzhao can be revealed by those three types of networks.