Cognitive systems, semantic constraints and fragmented narratives in the digital age

László I. Komlósi

in: Zsófia Várkonyi, Zsuzsa Simonffy (eds), Le point de vue pris au mot, Corela 19, 2016.

Abstract

The present study consists of two, seemingly disparate but not incongruous parts. The first part discusses two ground-breaking semantic theories whose common theme is semantic constraints on natural language. Pierre-Yves Raccah’s semantic theory discusses the direct and objective contribution of semantic objects in linguistic structure which takes effect in imposing constraints on the interpreted senses of utterances. Leonard Talmy’s cognitive semantics assumes semantics to be a language specific manifestation of concept structuring in linguistic cognition. A possible platform for reconciliation between the two views on semantics is offered by re-conceptualizing the notion “constraints on meaning construction”. The second part of the study aims at pointing at the emerging novel conditions provided by digital culture which may lead to fundamental changes in the practices of social cognition. The discussion raises the issues of meaning-creation and learning techniques in the digital era as traditional cultural narratives tend to become fragmented and linguistic cognition seems to lack the unquestionable common ground for negotiated and consensual patterns of interpretation.