Chapter 29 :English “fear” and Polish “strach” in contrast: The GRID paradigm and the Cognitive Corpus Linguistic methodology

Authors : B. Lewandowska-Tomaszczyk & P. A. Wilson

Abstract : The GRID instrument and the corpus methodology were used in a contrastive study analyzing power features and fear event scenarios associated with fear and strach. Frequencies were gained from Polish and English corpora on two different fear event scenarios: fright [paralysing effect, Experiencer feels weak, submissive and controlled by fear], and fight [active challenge, Experiencer feels powerful, dominant and in control of fear]. The metaphoric source domains of these two scenarios were also analyzed. The GRID features that had low and high loadings on the power dimension corresponded to the fright and fight event scenarios, respectively. The two methodologies produced some interesting consistency. Most notably, it was found that fight/high power was higher for fear than strach. Also, fright/low power had a relatively high degree of saliency. This pattern of results was discussed within the framework of the stable behavioural patterns that are associated with the fear response.

ERRATUM: The authors of Ch. 29 are B. Lewandowska-Tomaszczyk & P. A. Wilson  (3 authors were erroneously listed in the printed volume)

Keywords : fear strach corpus methodology FRIGHT FIGHT POWER Polish English

Ch 29 - Document SM 1.pdf
Ch 29 - Document SM 2.pdf
Ch 29 - Table SM 1.pdf
Ch 29 - Table SM 2.pdf