This paper explores the relationship between memory, language, and embodied cognition by analyzing how sign languages encode the concept of memory through bodily referents. While memory is often associated with the brain from a neurological perspective (Baddeley [1974]; Cann & Ross [1989]; Ackerman [1992]), different languages metaphorically locate memory in various parts of the body, such as the heart, muscles, or even the environment. Sentences like “This is etched on my heart” (English) refer to something that has made a big impression on me, making it easy for me to remember. Other languages refer to memory as residing in various places in the body, such as the ventral area of the body or the environment itself (in Japanese culture, for instance). Sign languages provide an opportunity to examine this phenomenon visually and spatially, offering insights into how bodily experience influences linguistic representation. Drawing on theories of embodiment, including work from neuroscience, psycholinguistics, and sign linguistics, this study investigates the bodily locations used to express memory across five sign languages: Italian Sign Language (LIS), Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS), American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and Japanese Sign Language (JSL). Using data from Spreadthesign and other linguistic resources, the study identifies commonalities in how these languages position memory-related signs primarily around the head, supporting the idea that cognitive and linguistic structures align with physical and cultural perceptions of memory storage. The research is grounded in conceptual metaphor theory (Lakoff & Johnson [1981]), which posits that abstract concepts are understood through embodied experiences and incorporates reflections on the semantic approach to sign language studies (Cuxac [2004]). Findings suggest that while spoken languages may metaphorically associate memory with different body parts, sign languages provide a more direct visual and spatial representation of these associations. By analyzing the lexicon of “memory” across different sign languages, the study offers evidence of a shared cognitive and bodily foundation in language structure, supporting the hypothesis that linguistic meaning is deeply embedded in human perception and bodily experience. Furthermore, this work contributes to ongoing discussions about the relationship between sign and spoken languages. While sign languages have often been studied in relation to their spoken counterparts, they offer unique insights into how language interacts with cognition and physicality. This study also aligns with previous research on iconicity in sign language (Cuxac [2000a, 2000b]; Wilcox [2000]; Taub [2001]), emphasizing the role of the body in structuring linguistic meaning. The findings challenge traditional distinctions between phonology and morphology in linguistic theory, reinforcing the need for models that account for the multimodal and spatial dimensions of sign language. By bridging linguistic, cognitive, and neurological perspectives, this paper underscores the importance of embodied cognition in understanding language development and meaning construction. The analysis of memory-related lexicon in sign languages not only highlights the influence of bodily experience in linguistic representation but also opens new avenues for exploring how language reflects fundamental cognitive processes across different modalities.
Memory in the signifying body. An insight into lexicon from different sign languages
Maria T. De Monte
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
2025-01-01
Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between memory, language, and embodied cognition by analyzing how sign languages encode the concept of memory through bodily referents. While memory is often associated with the brain from a neurological perspective (Baddeley [1974]; Cann & Ross [1989]; Ackerman [1992]), different languages metaphorically locate memory in various parts of the body, such as the heart, muscles, or even the environment. Sentences like “This is etched on my heart” (English) refer to something that has made a big impression on me, making it easy for me to remember. Other languages refer to memory as residing in various places in the body, such as the ventral area of the body or the environment itself (in Japanese culture, for instance). Sign languages provide an opportunity to examine this phenomenon visually and spatially, offering insights into how bodily experience influences linguistic representation. Drawing on theories of embodiment, including work from neuroscience, psycholinguistics, and sign linguistics, this study investigates the bodily locations used to express memory across five sign languages: Italian Sign Language (LIS), Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS), American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and Japanese Sign Language (JSL). Using data from Spreadthesign and other linguistic resources, the study identifies commonalities in how these languages position memory-related signs primarily around the head, supporting the idea that cognitive and linguistic structures align with physical and cultural perceptions of memory storage. The research is grounded in conceptual metaphor theory (Lakoff & Johnson [1981]), which posits that abstract concepts are understood through embodied experiences and incorporates reflections on the semantic approach to sign language studies (Cuxac [2004]). Findings suggest that while spoken languages may metaphorically associate memory with different body parts, sign languages provide a more direct visual and spatial representation of these associations. By analyzing the lexicon of “memory” across different sign languages, the study offers evidence of a shared cognitive and bodily foundation in language structure, supporting the hypothesis that linguistic meaning is deeply embedded in human perception and bodily experience. Furthermore, this work contributes to ongoing discussions about the relationship between sign and spoken languages. While sign languages have often been studied in relation to their spoken counterparts, they offer unique insights into how language interacts with cognition and physicality. This study also aligns with previous research on iconicity in sign language (Cuxac [2000a, 2000b]; Wilcox [2000]; Taub [2001]), emphasizing the role of the body in structuring linguistic meaning. The findings challenge traditional distinctions between phonology and morphology in linguistic theory, reinforcing the need for models that account for the multimodal and spatial dimensions of sign language. By bridging linguistic, cognitive, and neurological perspectives, this paper underscores the importance of embodied cognition in understanding language development and meaning construction. The analysis of memory-related lexicon in sign languages not only highlights the influence of bodily experience in linguistic representation but also opens new avenues for exploring how language reflects fundamental cognitive processes across different modalities.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
