The preposition de in a cognitive framework

A cognitive analysis of the uses of the preposition de in the contemporary French proposed in this article proves that 1. the preposition de is a category containing several uses organized around prototypical uses; 2. there is a semantic invariant that makes possible distinguishing between the value of the preposition de and other prepositions that may appear in the same context (eg. a typewriter vs a writing machine); 3. simple and contracted forms are motivated by the frequency of usage based on preferential uses; 4. the choice of the preposition is negotiated simultaneously on the conceptual, linguistic and discursive levels.

Lexical-Semantic Markers of Text Connectivity

Generalization and systematization of lexical-semantic markers, which transform the text into a coherent and uniform structure, were aimed at in this article. These markers in the artistic text include synonymous and antonymic groups of words, lexical-semantic fields, thematic and associative chains. In their totality, they create more complex and voluminous structures – isotopes that reveal the theme of the work and the artistic design of the writer. Isotopes are built up by the reader according to his outlook, intelligence and sensuality.

The category of evaluation of the primary value of marketing terms through metaphorical rethinking

The article deals with the metaphor as one of the important methods of cognition and conceptualization of reality. This is the cognitive mechanism by which abstract concepts are concretized. Metaphor is the key to understanding the fundamental principles of thinking and the processes of creating mental images of the world, since the cognition covers not only theoretical knowledge, but also the understanding of a person’s daily life, his acquisition of the simplest experience and ongoing interaction with the outside world. It was cognitive linguistics that allowed us to proceed to the study of language as a speech ability, that is, to its analysis from the inside. Therefore, the breadth of the metaphorical nomination as one of the productive processes of creating linguistic units prompts to recognize the metaphor as one of the most important sources of the of terminology formation and the creation of new concepts.

From pater familias to parent 1: the figures of a father in the law through the centuries

The central thesis of this paper is that the term père (father) in law is defined more by the legal roles of the father than by the biological facts. These legal roles and functions have changed during the centuries and have had a significant impact on understanding of the legal concept of a father. This paper aims to show the evolution of this concept through the most symbolic figures of a father in the law, from the roman figure of pater familias to the contemporary figure of a father as a one of the parents.

Geometry in a book of mathematical riddles from the beginning of the 16^th century

In this paper we present and analyse, from the linguistic point of view, the treatise Giuochi mathematici written by Piero di Niccolò d’Antonio da Filicaia. It is a very appealing witness of the history of the recreational mathematics from the beginning of the 16^th century. After a brief introduction of Piero’s cultural background, we describe the structure of the treatise and its sources. We deal especially with the fourth part of Giuochi mathematici in which the author imitates the contents of Alberti’s Ludi matematici. Our analysis shows that textual reworking is quite deep although there is continuity as far as terminology and contents are concerned.

*Articolo realizzato nell’ambito del progetto di ricerca 2016/21/B/HS2/00744 finanziato con i fondi del National Science Centre of Poland.

Historical context and political speech: Analysis of the declarations following the announcement of the results of the presidential elections in Lithuania and France (1993–2009)

The linguistic personal characteristics of the presidential candidates have not been analyzed in France or in Lithuania. This article discusses the relationship between the election context, the content of the phrases, and the personal political vocabulary. The computer software Tropes and Lexico gave us such an opportunity thanks to their technical performance regarding research and comparison of personal vocabulary. Thus, quantitative lexicometric data have distinguished the statements of Sarkozy in France and Adamkus in Lithuania. Thanks to these programs, we have been able to distinguish the central with peripheral semantic universes. French speakers speak more about historical symbols, for example, republican values: freedom, fraternity, equality, solidarity, etc. Lithuanian speakers, on the other hand, make more reference to their political predecessors, which symbolize the Lithuanian state, and to the news of the moment, especially in the case of defeated candidates. The second observation concerns the Lithuanian list which is quite long and the vocabulary used is quite varied. This is related first of all to the higher number of speakers – eight in Lithuania and five in France. Then, it is also the peculiarity of the genre of Lithuanian Interviews where the language is more spontaneous than in the French Declarations. Another conclusion is that Lithuanian policies opt less for the language of wood than French politicians. However, the policies of both countries choose a standard language. In any case, the elected presidents and the defeated candidates of both countries understand the importance of this republican ritual for the legitimization of their status. Candidates are realizing the need to materialize through language the aspirations of their voters who voted for without hurting however who voted against. That is why when they talk about big themes, for example, racism, tolerance, pacifism, equality between women and men, it is difficult to choose the exact words, to emit ideas nuanced enough to hurt no one.

Académie Française Acceptance Speech: between the past and the future

Académie Française has been a guardian of tradition and a symbol of continuity of the French literaturę and culture for nearly four hundred years. The speeches provide a link between the past and the future at least by the obligation of a new member, elected to replace one that passed away, to give a eulogy presenting glory and praising works of his/her predecessor. Based on several speeches, the paper discusses, in the first place, evolution of reflections on literature and predecessors’ works and, in the second place, provides an example of breaking with tradition: election of the first woman to Académie Française and justification of this radical change. The speeches constitute a bulwark of tradition, since their form and the way predecessors are presented do not change but constitute a reflection of change.