Event structure as a metonymic target and vehicle in the languages of the deaf

Abstract

The paper addresses the issue of event structure in the languages of the deaf. Basing on cognitive linguistic view of metonymy as a pervasive and multi-dimensional conceptual mechanism (Blank, 1999; Lakoff, 1987; Radden & Kövecses, 1999), it argues that signed languages employ parts of events to access whole events, and that actions, objects, locations and other elements of event structure also provide mental access to such concepts as animals, food, instruments, locations, professions, and sports.