Cognitive Stylistics: An Introduction

Step 1: Identify Key Lexical Items Look for: Repeated words Metaphorical words Emotionally loaded words Step 2: Identify Activated Schemas Ask: What experience does this word relate to? Is it physical, emotional, cultural? Step 3: Identify Conceptual Metaphors Ask: Is something abstract described in concrete terms? Step 4: Reader Effect Ask: What mental image is formed? What emotion is triggered? 6. Naming Styles in Cognitive Stylistics Unlike traditional stylistics, cognitive stylistics names styles based on cognitive patterns, not just linguistic features. 6.1 Common Cognitive Styles 1. Metaphor-Dominant Style Heavy use of conceptual metaphors Abstract ideas expressed concretely Example (English): Grief sat beside him like an uninvited guest. Example (Urdu): غم اس کے پاس ایک مہمان کی طرح بیٹھا تھا۔ 2. Schema-Driven Style Relies on shared cultural knowledge Minimal explanation Example (English): He packed his bag and didn’t look back. Activates JOURNEY / ESCAPE schema 3. Embodied Style Strong sensory language Appeals to body-based experience Example (Urdu): ٹھنڈی ہوا نے اس کی جلد کو چھو لیا۔ (The cold wind touched his skin.) 4. Perspective-Oriented Style Shifts in deixis (I, here, now) Controls reader viewpoint 5. Emotional-Construal Style Lexical items evaluate events emotionally English: That miserable afternoon changed everything. Urdu: وہ منحوس دوپہر سب کچھ بدل گئی۔