IMAGE SCHEMAS AND THEIR ROLE IN COGNITIVE SEMANTICS

This article examines the role of image schemas in cognitive semantics and their contribution to meaning construction. It explores the theoretical foundations of image schema theory and explains how recurring bodily experiences shape conceptualization and semantic interpretation. Particular attention is given to basic image schemas such as CONTAINER, PATH, SOURCE–PATH–GOAL, LINK, BALANCE, and FORCE, which serve as fundamental cognitive structures underlying linguistic meaning. The findings demonstrate that image schemas provide a conceptual basis for understanding both concrete and abstract concepts through embodied experience. The study highlights the significance of image schemas in cognitive linguistics, discourse analysis, translation studies, and language education.