The Role of Construal in Mapping Conceptual Representations onto Linguistic Representations in a Static Event: An Experimentally-oriented Work

The purpose of this study is to outline a framework of visuo-spatial static event representations and how conceptual representations (CRs) are mapped onto linguistic representation inventory (LRI) (ii) to detail the role of construal in such a framework (iii) to shed light on schematicity- specificity relation investigating nominals (Ns) and relationals (Rs), and thereby making cross- conceptual and cross-linguistic comparisons between Kurmanji Kurdish and Arabic. The study hypothesizes the existence of both dynamic and meta-dynamic processes. To achieve the objectives, a self-report object-spatial imagery questionnaire applied on a systematic random sample consisted of 15 Syrian Kurds and 15 Arabs; the questionnaire attempted to elicit one or two construals and the dynamic and meta-dynamic processes underlying them. The study suggests that (i) meaning is encyclopedic involving analogization and categorization where the LRs cannot map all subtleties of the CRs (ii) participants profile either Ns or Rs and the percentage of Ns is greater than Rs: Kurdish (N 21 R7) and Arabic (N19 R7) (iii) Figure-ground alignments sound a universal criterion (iv) The LRs are more specific when they have more CRs and vice versa, and that is why they are hierarchical in meaning (v) what is N in Kurdish could be R in Arabic (vi) relation encodings are represented in PPs, VPs, adjectives but the use of active, passive participles, and verbal nouns is Arabic-specific and the use of periphrasis and Pre Per verb form is Kurdish-specific. LRI in Kurdish includes canonical copular clauses (CCCs), existential sentence + present perfect (Pre Per), and periphrastic factitive constructions but LRI in Arabic includes nominal sentences only. Ns are encoded in Nouns, NPs, nominal compounds, *PPs and CCCs in both languages (vii) atemporal Ns and Rs have dynamic relations and/or meta-dynamic relational process in their base. Finally, the study shows that the role of construal in mapping CRs onto LRs is not all-or-nothing, which we may call meta-dynamicity-stativity hypothesis. The meaning of LRs is not a direct pinning down of concepts, but it consists of both the content and the speaker’s construal.