World Englishes and Cultural Linguistics

Theory and research

Bibliographic Data

ID2294091
AuthorsFrank Polzenhagen (0000-0001-8476-4275, English Department University of Kaiserslautern‐Landau (RPTU in Landau) Landau Germany, corresponding author), Hans‐georg Wolf (0000-0003-2429-769X, Institute for English and American Studies University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany), Denisa Latić (0000-0002-2946-332X, Institute for English and American Studies University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany), A Peters (0000-0001-9537-1901, Linguistics and Literary Studies University of Bremen Bremen Germany)
Year2024
Volume43
Issue3
Pages360-378
Publication date2024-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueWorld Englishes (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0883-2919 • E-ISSN: 1467-971X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/weng.12655
OpenAlexW4399383846
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited56

This article explores the evolution of Cultural Linguistics, its fusion with Cognitive Linguistics and Cognitive Sociolinguistics, and its application to the study of world Englishes, emphasising the cultural dimension of language and cognition. It investigates key theoretical concepts in Cultural Linguistics such as cultural categories, schemas, conceptualisations, keywords, models and scenarios as essential analytical tools for examining the interplay between thought, language and culture. Using examples from English varieties in sub-Saharan Africa, Great Britain, Ireland, India and Hong Kong, this article demonstrates how these conceptual phenomena interact at increasing levels of conceptual complexity. The discussion also distinguishes conceptual metaphor (and metonymy) from the somewhat problematic concept of 'cultural metaphor', previously used in some cultural-linguistic approaches to world Englishes. Finally, the article delves into Conceptual Blending Theory as a possible extension of Cultural Linguistics that synthesises diverse cultural knowledge to interpret culture-specific expressions in contemporary multilingual settings

Applied linguistics · Clinical linguistics · Ethnolinguistics · Linguistics · Media linguistics · Sociology · Theoretical linguistics · World Englishes · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Multilingual Education and Policy · Philosophy