CONCEPTUAL BLENDING Meaning and
Definition
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Conceptual blending, also known as mental integration or conceptual integration, is a cognitive process that involves combining different mental spaces or conceptual domains to create new meanings. It is a fundamental mechanism of human thought that enables us to generate novel and creative ideas by merging seemingly unrelated concepts.
In conceptual blending, two or more distinct mental spaces, which are cognitive structures containing knowledge and understanding about specific concepts, are brought together to form a new mental space. These mental spaces can be derived from various domains, such as language, perception, or social experiences. The process involves selectively mapping elements or features from each domain and then integrating them into a coherent and unified representation.
This blending process gives rise to emergent structures and meanings that are not apparent in the original mental spaces. It allows us to create new concepts, find associations between unrelated ideas, generate metaphors, and understand complex situations or abstract concepts.
Conceptual blending is considered a crucial cognitive mechanism underlying human creativity, problem-solving, and metaphorical thinking. It plays a significant role in various fields, including art, science, and language. By connecting diverse knowledge and ideas, it facilitates the generation of innovative solutions and insights.
Overall, conceptual blending involves the dynamic integration of cognitive structures from different domains, enabling humans to create new meanings and make sense of the world around them.
Etymology of CONCEPTUAL BLENDING
The term "conceptual blending" was coined by cognitive linguists Gilles Fauconnier and Mark Turner in the early 1990s. The etymology of the specific term is based on the meaning of the individual words involved.
1. "Conceptual" is derived from the noun "concept", which comes from the Latin word "conceptus", meaning "a thought" or "idea". It refers to the mental representation or understanding of something.
2. "Blending" is derived from the verb "blend", which comes from the Old English word "blendan" and means to mix or combine different substances or elements to form a homogeneous entity.
Therefore, "conceptual blending" refers to the cognitive process of combining or merging different conceptual elements, ideas, or mental representations to create a new, integrated understanding or conceptual structure.
