The knowing ear : an Australian test of universal claims about the semantic structure of sensory verbs and their extension into the domain of cognition

In this paper we test previous claims concerning the universality of patterns of polysemy and semantic change in perception verbs. Implicit in such claims are two elements: firstly, that the sharing of two related senses A and B by a given form is cross-linguistically widespread, and matched by a complementary lack of some rival polysemy, and secondly that the explanation for the ubiquity of a given pattern of polysemy is ultimately rooted in our shared human cognitive make-up. However, in comparison to the vigorous testing of claimed universals that has occurred in phonology, syntax and even basic lexical meaning, there has been little attempt to test proposed universals of semantic extension against a detailed areal study of non-European languages. To address this problem we examine a broad range of Australian languages to evaluate two hypothesized universals: one by Viberg (1984), concerning patterns of semantic extension across sensory modalities within the domain of perception verbs (i .e. intra-field extensions), and the other by Sweetser (1990), concerning the mapping of perception to cognition (i.e. trans-field extensions). Testing against the Australian data allows one claimed universal to survive, but demolishes the other, even though both assign primacy to vision among the senses

Evaluation of exercises designed to increase children's use of descriptive words.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Klipsun Magazine, 2011, Volume 42, Issue 01 - Fall

It s not until I catch a cold or come back from a loud concert that I realize how difficult it can be to live with an impaired sense. Not being able to taste or smell can make a weeklong cold unbearable — I just love food too much. A home-cooked meal sends my senses through the roof. Unfortunately, years of blaring my headphones, going to concerts and grinding my teeth every night since I was little has caused hearing loss in both my ears. My television volume is usually set at more than 30 and I always sit in the front of the class so I can hear my professor. In this issue, Klipsun explores several senses by examining sensory learning, the culture of the deaf community and how food presentation affects taste, as well as some unique senses like a sense of direction or sense of humor. We even explore the senselessness of making a penny. Last but not least, I would like to wish Klipsun a happy 40th birthday. It s been an incredible 40 years and I wish the best of luck to future Klipsun staff.https://cedar.wwu.edu/klipsun_magazine/1258/thumbnail.jp