The Matrix of Cognitive Filters as a Tool for the Analysis of Linguocreatemes in Modern English Discourse

Abstract

This study is devoted to the development of the author’s method “The Matrix of Cognitive Filters” (MCF). It is used to model the process of inferring the meaning of creative elements (linguocreatemes) in multimodal online discourse. To accomplish this task, key cognitive mechanisms for generating the meaning of linguocreatemes were identified and researched. These are banner blindness, evaluative categorization and conceptualization, (de)compression of information and profiling, conceptual metaphor, conceptual metaphtonymy, and conceptual integration. Monomodal verbal and multimodal linguocreatemes (more than 18,000 units) were selected with a continuous sampling method from English-language Internet resources, visual and verbal corpora. Theoretical analysis showed that the MCF can be used to model the overall ability of a linguocreateme to initiate cognitive resonance in a recipient. This method also allows for the collection of data on the probabilistic prediction of the level of cognitive resonance and positive or negative dissonance in an addressee. The empirical data obtained during a practical linguistic-cognitive experiment among English-speaking respondents from across countries confirmed the theoretical results of the study. The participants had to infer the general meanings of several multimodal linguocreatemes in accordance with the MCF. The experiment confirmed the feasibility of using this method to assess the occurrence of cognitive resonance, positive or negative dissonance, as well as obtaining additional data on the recipient’s reactions to different linguocreatemes in English online discourse.