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Figurative meaning in multimodal work by an autistic artist: a cognitive semantic approach

Hartman, Jenny LU and Paradis, Carita LU orcid (2021) In Language and Cognition 13(1). p.1-33
Abstract
Research on figurative meaning in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) would benefit from considering a greater variety of data types and using more diverse methods. Previous studies have predominantly applied experimental methods to investigate processing of figurative language (mostly metaphor) and have for the most part concluded that individuals with ASD have deficits in figurative language comprehension. In this study, we focus on the creation and communication of figurative meaning in discursively situated and thematically organized verbal, gestural, and pictorial data published by an autistic artist in the form of videos and comics. Across three prominent experiential themes in the data, we isolate types of conceptualizations and... (More)
Research on figurative meaning in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) would benefit from considering a greater variety of data types and using more diverse methods. Previous studies have predominantly applied experimental methods to investigate processing of figurative language (mostly metaphor) and have for the most part concluded that individuals with ASD have deficits in figurative language comprehension. In this study, we focus on the creation and communication of figurative meaning in discursively situated and thematically organized verbal, gestural, and pictorial data published by an autistic artist in the form of videos and comics. Across three prominent experiential themes in the data, we isolate types of conceptualizations and generalize over mappings between target and source experiences. We find that the data are rich in figurative meaning expression (e.g., metaphor and metonymy) conveyed through language, co-speech gestures, and pictures in ways that are clearly embodied (experientially based) and that reflect affordances and constraints of these modes of communication. While our case study of meaning production does not contradict previous research on figurative meaning comprehension in populations, it does indicate benefits of taking a broader and multimodal approach to figurative meaning in research on ASD. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorder, figurative meaning, gestures, comics, cognitive semantics, ASD
in
Language and Cognition
volume
13
issue
1
pages
1 - 33
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85085937119
ISSN
1866-9859
DOI
10.1017/langcog.2020.20
project
Mediation of sensory experiences by individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
dd5ac09f-028e-41d3-96fb-48168b84bc3d
date added to LUP
2020-04-27 14:12:06
date last changed
2022-04-18 22:01:33
@article{dd5ac09f-028e-41d3-96fb-48168b84bc3d,
  abstract     = {{Research on figurative meaning in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) would benefit from considering a greater variety of data types and using more diverse methods. Previous studies have predominantly applied experimental methods to investigate processing of figurative language (mostly metaphor) and have for the most part concluded that individuals with ASD have deficits in figurative language comprehension. In this study, we focus on the creation and communication of figurative meaning in discursively situated and thematically organized verbal, gestural, and pictorial data published by an autistic artist in the form of videos and comics. Across three prominent experiential themes in the data, we isolate types of conceptualizations and generalize over mappings between target and source experiences. We find that the data are rich in figurative meaning expression (e.g., metaphor and metonymy) conveyed through language, co-speech gestures, and pictures in ways that are clearly embodied (experientially based) and that reflect affordances and constraints of these modes of communication. While our case study of meaning production does not contradict previous research on figurative meaning comprehension in populations, it does indicate benefits of taking a broader and multimodal approach to figurative meaning in research on ASD.}},
  author       = {{Hartman, Jenny and Paradis, Carita}},
  issn         = {{1866-9859}},
  keywords     = {{Autism Spectrum Disorder; figurative meaning; gestures; comics; cognitive semantics; ASD}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{1--33}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Language and Cognition}},
  title        = {{Figurative meaning in multimodal work by an autistic artist: a cognitive semantic approach}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/langcog.2020.20}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/langcog.2020.20}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}