Feeling, Thinking, and Talking: How the Embodied Brain Shapes Everyday Communication

Description

The way the brain, body, and mind interact with social structure to shape communication has so far not received the attention it deserves. This book addresses this gap by providing a novel account of communication as a social, biological and neurological force. Combining theories from communication studies and psycholinguistics, and drawing on biological and evolutionary perspectives, it shows how communication is inherently both biological and social, and that language and the neural systems that support it have evolved in response to a complex social environment. It introduces a clear set of terms based on current research, and illustrates key concepts using real-life examples from everyday conversation - speaking to a number of current debates around the evolutionary and biological basis of language, and the relationship between language, cognition, and environment. Thought provoking and engaging, it will change the way we think about the relationship between communication and cognition. Cover Half-title Title page Copyright information Dedication Contents List of Figures Preface The Purpose of the Book 1 The Embodiment Perspective The Embodiment Perspective Communication Is Biological. Metaphors of Communication. Communication Is Cognitive. Communication Is Social. Communication Is Cultural. Concepts and Metaphorical Terms Homeostasis, Representation, and Communication Summary 2 Homeostasis: Perception, Feelings, and Signaling Embodied Cognition Evolutionary Perspective. Homeostasis The Brain and Central Nervous System Neural Function. The Computer Metaphor for Mind. Structure of the Brain Physiology of Communication. Perception. Experience. Memory. Hemispheric Specialization. Survival Circuits. Coordinating Representations and Actions. Physiological Adaptations for Communication Reward Systems: Why Solving Puzzles, Eating, and Sex Are Fun Summary 3 How Language and Conversation Evolved What Is Language? Language Evolution as a Response to Ecological Pressure Animal Communication Language as a Social Tool Play. Theory of Mind (ToM) and Signaling. Social Knowledge. The Gradual Development of Language Elaborating the Signal System. Expanding Vocabulary. Totemic Imitation. Elaborating Syntax. Metaphor. Abstraction and Ambiguity. Language for Coordinating Action. Implications for Our Understanding of Contemporary Language Memes: Units of Cultural Practice The Meme Theory Account of Culture and Brain Evolution. Language and Homeostasis Summary 4 Thinking: Using and Understanding Language Mind Identity and the Self. Consciousness What Does Consciousness Do? Metacognition. Memory. Perception, Understanding, and Language The Conventional Story: The Digital Mind. Perceptual Symbols. Evidence for Perceptual Simulations Simulating Visual Experience. Simulating Muscular Experience. Objections to the PSS (Perceptual Symbols Systems) Account. Metaphor. Schemas, Scripts, and Scenarios. Frames. Emotion. Natural Language Statistics (Semantic Connections). Synthesis: Context-Limited Simulation Theory Extended Summary 5 Emotion The Classic View: Basic Emotions The Expanding List of Emotion Categories. Methodological Issues. Survival Circuits Cultural Construction of Emotion Self-Attribution. Excitation Transfer. The Facial Feedback Effect. Emotion and Homeostasis Strategic Emotional Expression. The Enactive View Synthesis: Affect, Arousal, and Emotion Emotion and Reason Communicating Emotion Emotion Cues and Signals. Feelings. Emotion Categories and Terms. Communicating about Emotions Summary 6 Signals Signaling Intentionality. Signals. Language Word Meaning. Word Form (Morphology). Emblems (Code-Like Gestures). Illustrators. Utterances Conversation Support Supporting the Flow of Language. Turn-Taking. Speaker Support. Expressive Signals Emotions. Social Status and Power. Sexual Interest/Availability. Relationship and Affiliation. Digital or Analog? Ad Hoc Signals Summary 7 Context Cognitive Context and Relevance Context and Interpretation Establishing Common Ground. Social Settings Participants. Secondary Audiences. Face-to-Face vs. Mediated. The Discourse Context Nature and Purpose of the Talk. What Has Been Said Before, by Whom, and in What Sequence. Relationship to Broader Discourse. Relationship Affective Valence. Framing Physical Surroundings Culture Politeness and Relevance Summary: Context and Homeostasis 8 Relationships and Groups Basic Human Relationships Homeostasis, Relationships, and Social Groups Facework: Politeness and Impoliteness Impoliteness. Theory of Mind and Moral Judgment. Morality. Facework, Homeostasis, and Morality. Strategic Impoliteness and Morality: Trade-Offs. Social Control. Power and Status Signals of Power. Bases of Power. Managing Social Distance. Relationships of Equal Status Culture and Representation Relationship Dimensions Summary 9 Conversation Conversation and Homeostasis Telic Communication. Structure of Conversation Fine Structure of Conversation - Moment by Moment. Conversation Scripts Beginnings. Terminations. Topic Changes and Framing. Power and Status. Turn-Taking. Delays. Formulating a Response. Repairs. Recursion Settings and Genres Conflict Talk. Argumentation and Logic. Summary 10 Play The Nature of Play Juvenile Play Adult Play Language Play Play in Conversation Play and Homeostasis Play and the Origins of Language Use Summary 11 Metaphor Lexical Metaphor and Metonymy Semantic Association and Simulation Conceptual Metaphors From Code to Conceptual Metaphor - and Back? Grammatical Metaphor Multimodal Metaphor Metaphorical Stories and Story Metaphors Playful Metaphors. Understanding Metaphors Contextual Influences on Individual Interpretations. Convolution and the Cognitive-Affective Model. Analogy Versus Conceptual Metaphor: Comparing To or Experiencing As. Metaphor, Social Structure, and Personal Identity Synthesis: Context-Limited Simulation Theory (CLST) Summary 12 Humor and Irony Theories of Humor Humor as Sublimated Aggression. Incongruity and Frame-Shifting. A Cognitive/Evolutionary Account of Humor. Relevance. Playful Humor. Social Functions of Humor and Play Humor Cultures. Humor as a Coping Mechanism Irony Summary 13 Stories Defining Story Master-Plots, Setting, and Character Types Setting. Types of Story. Storytelling in Conversations Identity Stories Summary 14 Media Technology, Social Reality, and Discourse Communication Technology Language and Conversation. Social Reality. How Media Affect Cognition. Visual Images Written Language Print The Audience Electronic Media Radio and Television. Computer/Internet. The Cellphone. Elaborating and Fragmenting Social Reality Public Discourse Narratives Frame Conflicts. Example: Public Discourse about the US Civil War Conflicting Narratives: ''That's Not Who We Are.'' Lies and Fake News Summary 15 Recap: Homeostasis and Communication Cognition External Signals. Extending Homeostasis. Language, Personhood, and Conversation Conversation. Discourse Emotions and Values Summary Post-Script, Methodological Implications: Polysemy and Objectivity References Index