“容器”与“路径”——美国前副总统彭斯演讲的认知话语分析

Container and Path: A Cognitive Discourse Analysis of the Remarks by Former U.S. Vice-president Pence

话语是社会实践,也是心理认知过程。认知机制构成社会政治活动的基本框架,尤其是以语言活动为主的政治活动,因此从语言角度分析政治活动需要结合认知语言学理论,将语言的认知层面与社会政治层面相结合,运用认知机制考察政治话语使用背后的内容,揭示其隐含的意识形态。本文运用Chilton的认知话语分析模型,融合话语空间理论和意象图式理论,以时任美国副总统彭斯2018年在哈德逊研究所就美国政府对华政策所发表的演讲为研究对象,分析了演讲中所建构的话语空间,通过意象图式这一认知工具解读演讲中的中国形象,进而揭示演讲是如何从认知角度操控听众的。研究发现,演讲将中国定位为处于话语空间边缘的消极外部实体,通过“容器—路径”这一复合意象图式把中国建构成侵蚀美国利益的入侵者和阻碍内部自由发展的壁垒。本文通过对意象图式分析方法和话语空间理论的结合运用,对政治文本进行认知话语分析,以期使读者更清晰地认识到权力和意识形态如何控制话语,加深对话语实践背后蕴含的权力关系和意识形态的理解,注意养成批判性思维,客观地探究事实真相。

Discourse is both a social practice and a cognitive psychological process. The basic framework of any social political activity is an intrinsic cognitive mechanism, particularly with regard to political activities of which linguistic activities are the main part. Therefore, it is necessary to include cognitive linguistic theory in the discourse analysis of social politics, and to combine the cognitive aspects of language with social politics. The hidden ideology behind language can be revealed by analyzing the cognitive mechanisms in the human brain. Based on Chilton’s neurocognitive model, this paper presents an analysis of the remarks made by former U.S.Vice-president Pence regarding the administration’s policy toward China in 2018under the guidance of discourse space theory and image schema theory. The research findings suggested that China was positioned as a negative entity in the peripheral area of the discourse space. By further investigating the CONTAINER-PATH image schema used in the speech, we found that China was constructed as an intruder that encroached on American interests, and as a barrier to free internal development. This paper presents a cognitive discourse analysis of political discourse based on the combination of image schema and discourse space theory. Audiences can understand the power and ideology behind discourse practice and how this controls discourse more clearly, which will enable them to form the habit of critical thinking and to explore the truth objectively.