On the diversity of linguistic evidence for conceptual metaphor

In this article my main concern is the linguistic evidence for the view that metaphor is conceptual in nature. Since the fact that there is a great diversity of linguistic evidence for patterns of metaphorical thought has been, by and large, not emphasized enough, I overview a variety of such evidence, which can be derived from the study of different aspects of meaning within a particular language, crosslinguistically, and at a metalinguistic level. However, in itself the variety of linguistic evidence, even though it speaks very strongly for the idea that metaphor is conceptual in nature, is not sufficient to justify it. Therefore, recognizing the fact that claims about our conceptual system which are based on linguistic analyses alone remain within the “language – thought – language” circle, the article discusses also some kinds of nonlinguistic evidence for conceptual metaphors. Psycholinguistic research on metaphorical reasoning is presented as a major source of such nonlinguistic verifications. Drawing on Daniel Barenboim’s BBC Reith lectures of 2006, it is also argued that convergent evidence from language and music may serve to break open the “language – thought – language” circle

Arabic-Polish language contacts : an overview

The purpose of the paper is the attempt to point one of the most important aspects of the cultural contact of the Poland and Arabic countries with the consideration of the historical perspective. The author assumes that the language is the basic carrier of such contacts and also the main area of the mutual influences. Therefore, she discusses the Arabic and Polish relations mostly on the level of the translation of the literary and scientific output of both sides, as well as the linguistic interference mainly in the aspect of the lexical borrowings. The author quotes many examples of such linguistic contacts and underlines their great meaning in the existence and development of other types of relations: political, commercial, and cultural

Remediation of CO2CO_2 in Boudouard’s reaction as an example of reversible chemical reaction

One of the fundamental elements of a scientist's work is the ability to lead observations of the phenomena that surround us and based on them making conclusions. These observations are conducted within the so-called scientific experiments. Lessons learned based on the results obtained in experiments allow researchers to better understand the essence of the phenomena occurring in the world around us. Drawing conclusions is not always easy. In order to achieve this skill, we must possess a well-established knowledge in the field of the phenomenon that interests us. The most striking example of how important skills are observation and drawing proper conclusions is the phenomenon of global climate warming. The main parameter influencing temperatures registered on Earth is the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and especially carbon dioxide created from combustion processes. A significant role in studies of the reduction of CO2 emissions plays chemists. To be sure that conducted by them experiments are optimally designed, it is necessary to ensure them with proper education already at the secondary school level. The main aim of this article was to conduct the study in order to explain chemical issues that create the greatest cognitive difficulties among students. The second aim of the article was to propose a chemical experiment to students that would allow them to find out more about the phenomena governing in the area of problematic issues. The proposed experiment is based on the concept of solubility equilibrium. Results of preliminary tests that have been carried out after applying this experiment on a small group of students, indicated their better understanding of the studied subject