1.题目要改 要夺人眼球 包括小标题也要改
2.考虑读者 不能先放句子例子
3.所有分类的中文描述 发给老师分大类
4.图表找权威书籍中的
5.自己做的图表要重新做过
6.五种感官的先后 词意是什么时候出现的 哪一种是最初的 有什么
研究意义
超越感官人 物 状态 两个大的区分 从感官到感官 超越感官按次分
类
词意扩展的消极与积极 positive 有多少 negative sense and state
划分 物或者人到底是消极还是积极 fire 这些还可以再分
气候 冬天概念 分个小类 为什么会这样
7.
摘
要
词义演变不仅是人类对外部世界认知的深化反映，也是社会文化变迁的印记。
触觉，作为人类五种感官中最基础的感受，是一种由外界刺激物接触皮肤表面引
发的机械刺激。人类最初形成对外界事物的感知也是从触觉开始的。触觉形容词
则是用来描述这些触觉性状和感受的词汇。本文以英国国家语料库（BNC），早
期英语图书在线语料库(EEBO), 英语趋势语料库(ET 2014-Today)中的词频数据
发现，当今人类触觉形容词的使用中，“soft”的应用范围广泛且词频较高，因此
本文选择其作为主要研究对象。
本文结合概念隐喻理论、原型范畴理论和，映射机制，详细探讨英语触觉形
容词“soft”在隐喻机制下的词义扩展现象。揭示其在隐喻机制下词义扩展的历时
规律和途径，特别是其外延扩展的途径和演变特点。通过这一研究，期望能够更
1
深入地理解隐喻思维下英语词义的动态变化，为英语学习者更好地掌握英语感官
形容词的多维语义，提升对单词词义扩展途径的理解，从而在学习过程中实现更
有效的语言应用和词汇运用。
【关键词】词义扩展；感官形容词；概念隐喻;原型范畴
2
Abstract
The semantic change of words is not only a reflection of the deepening of human
cognition of the external world but also a mark of social and cultural changes. Touch,
the most fundamental of the five human senses, refers to the mechanical stimulation
caused by external stimuli coming into contact with the skin. Human perception of
external stimuli initially stems from touch, and tactile adjectives describe these tactile
characteristics and sensations. An in-depth analysis of word frequency data from British
National Corpus (BNC), Early English Books Online Corpus (EEBO), and English
Trends Corpus (ET 2014-Today) reveals that "soft" and "hard" are widely used and have
high word frequency in describing tactile sensations in present-day human language.
Therefore, this article selects “soft” as the primary focus of research.
Based on conceptual metaphor theory, prototype theory, and mapping mechanism,
this paper explores the semantic extension of the English sensory adjective "soft" and
examines the historical processes and methods of how word meanings evolve
metaphorically, focusing on the characteristics of this extension. This article aims to
gain a deeper insight into the dynamic changes in English word meaning influenced by
metaphor, which helps us grasp the multi-dimensional semantics of English sensory
adjectives and enhance our comprehension of semantic extension, contributing to more
effective language application and vocabulary usage in the learning process.
【Key words】Semantic extension; Sensory adjective; Conceptual metaphor; Prototype
category
3
Semantic Extension of “Soft” in the Social Change from a
Metaphorical Perspective
1 Introduction
The first chapter discusses the background, purpose, and significance of the article,
aiming to reveal the unique value of the sense adjective “soft” in the context of social
change.
1.1 Research Background and Significance
Language is an essential tool for human communication thought and is intricately
linked to social changes throughout its development and evolution. As society and
history progress, the semantic evolution and extension reflect our growing cognition of
the world while also showcasing the dynamism and diversity of social culture.
Metaphor, as a vehicle for perceiving the world and generating new concepts, offers a
fresh approach for humans to enhance their comprehension of the world. In the real
world, the human body is the primary physical tool for shaping human knowledge and
our initial understanding externally often comes from the sensations and experiences
we gain through interacting physically with the outside. Sensory experiences such as
touch, sight, and hearing not only help us understand external circumstances, but also
extend to abstract areas such as emotions, thoughts, and social phenomena through
metaphor.
Indeed, the process of semantic extension arises from human introspection and the
ongoing exploration and understanding of the world. As a result, the original
vocabulary has often proven insufficient for humans to fully explain their experiences.
This led to the practice of assigning additional meanings to words that originally had a
single meaning, allowing for more nuanced expressions, whose transition from basic
meaning to extended meaning occurs over time. So, semantic extension reflects how
individuals from different eras comprehend the world around them and enriches the
expressive capability of language, illustrating the evolution of human thought and
4
cognitive methods amidst social changes. Therefore, studying the semantic extension
of word holds significant value.
Furthermore, for language learners, a deeper understanding of the semantic
extension enables them to master the internal mechanisms of semantic changes, find
more efficient ways to learn English, and improve the accuracy and vividness of their
expressions. For society, semantic extension is the product of how members of different
eras perceive the world. Understanding them helps to understand the social phenomena
and current situations of various eras, providing a useful reference for historical
research and social analysis.
1.2 Research Objects and Purpose
This article utilizes insights from cognitive linguistics to examine the semantic
extension in the English synesthetic adjective “soft”. The analysis is based on word
frequency data from the British National Corpus (BNC), Early English Book Online
Corpus (EEBO), and English Trends (2014-Today). According to the statistics, in BNC,
“soft” was used 5,801 times, while in EEBO, “soft” appeared 26,615 times in 14001700. These high-frequency occurrences underscore the prevalence and significance of
“soft” in everyday language use and suggest the broad scope and complexity of their
meanings. Therefore, this article chose “soft” to explore semantic extension under
metaphorical mechanisms.
The objective is to analyze the broader semantic extension of the synesthetic
adjective “soft” to comprehend the evolving meanings of touch-related adjectives. By
drawing on the conceptual metaphor theory, prototype theory, and its mapping, the
article delves into the characteristics of the semantic extension of sensory adjectives
and scrutinizes how their meanings have expanded alongside changes in human
cognition.
2. Research Review of Metaphor and Its Development
The history of metaphor can be traced back to the ancient Greek period when
Aristotle considered metaphor in his Poetic and Rhetoric as “An extraordinary method
5
which activates human language and due to its specialty, the metaphorical language is
beyond the normal human language”. Consequently, for a long time, under the influence
of Aristotle, traditional rhetoric scholars such as Cicero, Quintilianus, and Longinus
thought that Metaphor is the process of relating one concept or thing to another through
comparison or symbolism to express the views or ideas more vividly.
Since George Lakoff and Mark Johnson published Metaphors We Live By in 1980,
the concept of metaphor has been extended to a cognitive level, becoming a crucial way
for humans to understand the world. At its core, a metaphor involves understanding and
experiencing one type of thing in terms of another.
2.1 The Research Review
2.1.1 Review of Metaphor Studies
In modern times, the first foreign scholar to break the concept of Metaphor as mere
Rhetoric was I.A. Richards (1936), who put forward the Metaphor Interaction Theory
in The Philosophy of Rhetoric, believing that each metaphorical statement should have
two subjects. Primary and secondary subjects. Then, Max Black (1934) developed this
theory and proposed that metaphor mainly generates metaphorical meaning through the
associated commonplaces' map onto the main subject of the secondary subject.
Interaction theory holds that metaphor is not only a feature of language but also a way
of thinking. In essence, metaphor is a kind of connection between human cognition and
interaction within the language.
In the 1970s, Metaphor is all the rage. Numerous studies about metaphors have
been conducted on metaphors in psychology, semiotics, philosophy, anthropology, and
other fields. Ultimately, George Lakoff and Mark Johnson (1980) explored the nature
of language by focusing on the role of metaphor. They extended the understanding of
metaphor from the realm of pragmatics to that of cognition, which believed that people
use their perceptual experiences to form and organize concepts in life. Here, metaphors
are closely related to human cognitive thinking, and their essence is to understand and
experience one thing in terms of another. What’s more,
in Metaphor, its Cognitive Force and Linguistic Structure, E. Kittay (1987) discussed
6
the cognitive function of metaphor and its expression in linguistic structure from the
perspective of modern psychology and linguistics, offering psychological proof of the
metaphor's universal presence in human thought.
After 2000, there have been diverse fields of research on Metaphor with rich
achievements, including Zoltan Kovecses (2002) in Metaphor: A Practical Introduction
provides a comprehensive overview of metaphor and explores the role of metaphor in
cognition, language, and culture; Gilles Fauconnier & Mark Turner (2002) proposed
the Conceptual Blending Theory, which expanded metaphor understanding and
explained how humans mix conceptual domains to produce new lexical meanings; In
Metaphor in Discourse, Elena Semino (2008) explored the use of metaphor in various
discourses and conducted qualitative and quantitative research on metaphor based on
corpus. In addition, metaphor has a profound impact on non-linguistic domains.
The study of metaphor in China started relatively late compared with that in the
West. In the early stage, the study of metaphor has been confined to the comparative
study of similar figures, metaphor and simile, metaphor and metaphor. However, under
the influence of conceptual metaphor, remarkable progress has been made in recent
years.
Shu Dingfang(2001), discussed the influence of metaphor as a cognitive
phenomenon on human thought processes, artistic creation, and language use. etc., By
integrating and organizing theories from the West, she offered a new perspective and
approach to metaphor research. Cheng Jie (2001) posited that the study of metaphor has
evolved through two main stages: first, recognizing metaphor as a linguistic
phenomenon, and second, understanding it as a cognitive mechanism. He emphasized
the significance of categorization in studying semantic extension.
Based on the existing theory of metaphor, modern research on metaphor has been
conducted extensively across various fields such as translation, education, and
psychology and the role and function of metaphor in cross-cultural communication.
According to Luo Yi(2003), the translation of metaphors should be understood within
the context of cultural communication. In addition to domestication, alienation, and
substitution, as well as the use of similes, a cultural perspective can enhance
metaphorical translation, leading to more effective communication across languages;
7
Song Lizhen(2003) analyzed the connotations of metaphors in TV advertisements using
semiotic analysis and other methods. She explored metaphorical phenomena in
advertisements and illustrated the practical applications of metaphorical thinking in
everyday life.
2.2 Development on the Study of English Sensory Adjective
Metaphors
As early as 1987, Langacker highlighted that, in addition to time and space, human
beings possess fundamental cognitive domains such as temperature, color, taste, tone,
and other sensory experiences, laying the groundwork for the later study of metaphor
in sensory language.
On that basis, In the Tactile Interaction as the Source Domain of Metaphoric
Extensions, Balmas (2000) conducted a systematic study and in-depth investigation on
how tactile metaphors in English vocabulary are influenced by human touch; However,
Rakova(2003) focused on the polysemy of English adjectives, particularly focusing on
synesthetic adjectives. By analyzing how sensory adjectives are used and how their
meanings change in various contexts, he explored the role of synesthesia in the
development of adjective polysemy; Then, Shindo (2009) conducted a detailed study
on the phenomenon of semantic extension in English sensory adjectives, examining
how these adjectives evolve from their basic meanings to more abstract and indirect
contextual uses.
In terms of synesthetic adjectives, domestic scholars primarily focus on the
cognitive mechanisms behind synesthetic metaphors. They conduct semantic analyses
of individual tactile words and compare the meaning extension of sensory adjectives in
English and Chinese from the perspective of cognitive linguistics.
For example, Liu Yexin (2006) made a preliminary discussion on the derivation of
new words from "hard" and "soft" in An Exploration of the Meaning of "Hard" and
"Soft";
Mei Jinli (2007) analyzed the law of the derivation of the word "hot" from the
perspective of cognitive linguistics in The Cognitive Analysis of Meaning Extension of
8
HOT; A Corpus-Based on ANGER IS HEAT by Lin Jin (2007) explores the relevant
characteristics of the metaphor "anger is heat".
Cheng Yang (2011), A Small Analysis of the Lexical Semantics of Chinese Tactile
Adjectives "soft/hard", examines the evolution of various meanings of "soft" and "hard"
through the lens of metaphor, and investigates the rules of semantic extension; While
in A Semantic Analysis of Tactile Adjectives in English and Chinese, Wen Yang (2013)
discusses the semantic components of four basic tactile adjectives: "cold," "hot," "soft,"
and "hard," in both English and Chinese, explaining the relationships between these
sensory perceptions and the common processes of semantic derivation for "cold," "hot,"
"soft," and "hard" in both languages.
2.3 Comments on Previous Studies
While existing metaphorical research on sensory adjectives provides valuable
references for this article, there remain some problems for further exploration:
1. The semantic derivation rules for sensory adjectives need improvement.
2. While there are many cross-language comparative studies on sensory adjectives,
there is a lack of research on individuals.
3. Most research focuses on analyzing the static characteristics of sensory
adjectives from a cognitive perspective. However, there is little systematic and holistic
investigation into their dynamic semantic changes amid ongoing social transformations,
with few diachronic studies undertaken.
Therefore, it is valuable to choose the sensory word "soft" for analyzing and
studying its semantic extension from a diachronic metaphor perspective.
3 Research Theory and Methodology
3.1 Theoretical Foundation of the Study
3.1.1 Conceptual Metaphor Theory
George Lakoff and Mark Johnson (1980) in Metaphors We Live By have expanded
the concept of metaphor to cognitive processes, offering a means for humans to enhance
their understanding. At its core, a metaphor involves comprehending and experiencing
9
one thing about another, which leads to the idea of a conceptual metaphor. Conceptual
metaphor is a cognitive phenomenon that connects abstract concepts to tangible
experiences, serving as an important tool for individuals to comprehend complex or
uncertain ideas.
In the operational mechanism of conceptual metaphor, Lakoff points out that the
metaphor can be understood as a mapping from a source to a target domain. Here, the
known domain is the source domain, and the unknown domain is the target domain.
The source domain refers to the thing being used as a metaphor, and it is used to express
a certain meaning, which is usually a specific concept. The target domain, on the other
hand, is the concept or situation that needs to be explained or understood. The metaphor
functions as a cross-domain mapping, where the source domain is represented by the
target domain. These mechanisms illustrate the mapping of metaphor, which is central
to conceptual metaphor theory.
However, Lakoff and Johnson also propose that mapping is not haphazard, but
rather systematic and grounded in human experience, following principles and making
metaphorical cognition experiential. Through the body's five senses, people initially
acquire primary information about the outside world, which helps them classify and
form preliminary concepts in their brains based on various attributes such as color,
texture, and visual perception. Subsequently, through metaphorical cognition
experiential, the initial information is processed and associated with other things and
experiences related to this sensation, expanding the original meaning of the object. This
way, the semantic extension is accomplished through the bridge of metaphor.
Figure3-1 The working mechanism of metaphor
Zhu (2017)
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3.1.2 Prototype Theory
To explain prototype theory, we first need to understand the concept of "category."
A "category" refers to a cognitive grouping of things whose differences between these
groupings arise from the unique ways individuals perceive the nature of things. These
reflect how various cognitive subjects understand and categorize the world around them.
For example, Lakoff (1987) thinks women, fire, and dangerous things belong to the
same category, but in some cultures, these belong to three categories respectively.
Therefore, category boundaries are fuzzy, characteristics are not binary, and can change
under the influence of individual cognition.
The core of the Prototype theory is "prototype" and "Family Resemblance".
“Prototype” is the best sample in a category, a representative thing, and an individual
with the greatest similarity among members of the same category. “Family
Resemblance” is the similarity bond that connects the members of the unified category
family, helping the words with a unified meaning to form a radioactive continuum that
expands from the inside out. The degree of similarity between category members and
prototypes varies, with some members occupying the core position and others
occupying the peripheral position. As a result, core meanings and peripheral meanings
emerge. During the social change, people initially assign basic categories to words,
which generally correspond to their primary meanings. However, as life scenarios
progress and new needs arise, the existing primary meanings no longer suffice for
linguistic expression. Consequently, human cognition, through the metaphorical
mechanism, derives additional meanings for words. The semantic extension is thus a
process that continuously evolves through this cycle.
3.2 Research Methodology
3.2.1 Qualitative Analysis
Utilizing the British National Corpora (BNC), Early English Book Online Corpora
(EEBO), and Word Frequency in English Trends Corpora (ET 2014-Today), this article
collects and statistically analyses the frequency of the word “soft” in English novels
from its introduction in Old English to 2024, encompassing a total of 350,293 sentences.
11
The corpus reflecting the use of “soft” in various contexts has been organized and
examined based on similar meanings, thereby enhancing the supportive corpus for this
article.
3.2.2 Descriptive and Explanatory Methods
The description involves explaining linguistic phenomena by analyzing the
semantic features, syntactic characteristics, and other elements related to the word
“soft”. This analysis illustrates the various contexts in which the meaning of "soft" has
evolved. Descriptive linguistics, also known as synchronic linguistics, focuses on
detailing the meanings of "soft" both historically and in contemporary usage, which
identifies patterns of semantic extension throughout its historical development. This
description aims to clarify the causes and effects of these linguistic phenomena.
3.2.3 Diachronic Research Method
The diachronic research method involves summarizing and organizing the
meanings of "soft" from ancient times to the present, showcasing its semantic changes
across different cultural contexts and historical periods. This approach analyzes the
characteristics and patterns of semantic extension during various historical periods.
From its original meaning to the new meanings derived as society developed, the
diachronic research method provides a comprehensive and systematic perspective for
studying the semantic extension of the word “soft”.
3.3 Data Collection
3.3.1 Dictionary
The collection of meanings and example sentences related to "soft" in this article
is sourced from The Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (The University of Texas at Austin),
Oxford English Dictionary (Online), and the University of Michigan Middle English
Dictionary. All dictionary data and URLs are provided in detail in the appendix.
12
3.3.2 Corpus
To collect a comprehensive and systematic range of meanings of "soft" from 1200
to 2400, this article has gathered and searched for relevant corpora from the British
National Corpus (BNC), Early English Books Online (EEBO), and English Trends
(2014–Today) related to “soft.” All the corpus sources are identified, and some have
been omitted for simplicity.
4 The Analysis of the Extended Senses of the Word “Soft”
This chapter aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of English novels collected from
1200 to 2024 in the corpus resources, systematically exploring the historical evolution
of the word "soft" from its original meanings to its semantic extension. The diachronic
study focuses on four key historical periods: Old English, Middle English, Early
Modern English, and Late Modern English, to reveal the specific paths of semantic
extension of “soft” as influenced by social changes and the evolution of human
cognition, along with the underlying mechanisms.
4.1 The Original Meaning of “Soft”
The prototype of “soft” in Old English originates from the Proto-Germanic
“samftijaz” in the Indo-European language family. Initially, it referred to the sensation
experienced when touching an object that could easily deform under pressure, thus
forming the concept of “soft” in our consciousness. In conceptual metaphor theory, this
initial concept is referred to as the prototype category, representing its most typical
meaning, the essential characteristics. According to the Oxford Advanced English
Dictionary. “soft” originally meant “having a surface that offers only limited resistance
to pressure. Not hard or firm to the touch;”.
(1a) Þe sófte buttir of cristes passioun is broute in to þe chirne of þe herte forto
sople it. (OED)
(1b) Ne hé ne cume on wearmum bæðe ne on sófte bedde (OED)
In (1a)(1b), when humans touch butter and a bed, both tend to undergo
13
deformation easily because the objects themselves are relatively soft. Therefore, the
original meaning of "soft" is to describe a material property that is easily changeable.
The semantic components at this time can be analyzed as [ ＋ TOUCH] and [ ＋
PHYSIOLOGY].
4.2 The Semantic Extension of “Soft” in Old English and Middle
English
The initial meaning of “soft” originates from the human tactile experience of the
external environment. Through the analysis of corpus data from Old English and
Middle English in EEBO and OED, it is evident that during this historical period, the
extension of “soft” expanded from the tactile domain to the other four senses including
hearing, taste, smell, and sight. “Soft” also extended to the non-material domain,
describing human character traits and states of affairs and evolving from simple to more
complex meanings.
4.2.1 Soft for Five Senses
Human's initial understanding of the objective world comes from the five senses,
with touch being the most direct physical sensation and the physical basis for the
original meaning of “soft.” Based on the original definition of “soft”, people further
extended the sensory experience of “soft” through the eyes, ears, and tongue, expanding
its meaning into the domains of vision, taste, and hearing, thereby achieving the first
metaphorical extension of “soft.”
4.2.1.1 Semantic Extension in Tactile Domain
(2a) Sire Thopas eek so wery was for prikyng on the soft grass. (University of
Michigan Middle English Dictionary)
(2b) The flour is soft to the touch and handle. (University of Michigan Middle
English Dictionary)
(2c) Tartar is like a soft stoon. (University of Michigan Middle English Dictionary)
(2a)(2b)(2c) deepens the original meaning of “soft” as “having a surface that
14
offers only limited resistance to pressure. Not hard or firm to the touch;” In (2b),
“soft” is used to describe the soft touch of dough. “Soft grass” and “soft stoon”, both
describe the texture of actual objects. Subsequently, when people encounter soft
objects, they are often not easy to be hurt, and naturally produce a pleasant mood, so
“soft” expands its meaning. “The quality of being soft and yielding; Also: that which
presents a yielding surface to the touch.” Therefore, “soft” has a semantic component
of [+TOUCH], [+PHYSIOLOGY], [+QUALITY] and [+PLEASANT]. Because of
the soft properties, the solid is low in hardness, making it easy to bend and fold, “soft”
means “a substance that may easily be molded, compressed, cut, or folded. Also:
pulpy; of a semi-fluid consistency. ”
4.2.1.2 From Tactile to Visual Domain
(3a) The soft light of the candle danced upon the walls. (EEBO)
(3b) The soft sunlight of heaven shines brightly. (OED)
In (3a)(3b), by mobilizing the eyes to extend the feeling of softness to vision, “soft”
creates a meaning that can be used to describe light intensity, and brightness, like “Of
the sun, light, etc.: shining gently, mildly." used to describe light that is not intense or
irritating.” At this point, the “soft” semantic adds the meaning of [+LIGHT], which can
be used to describe non-physical objects, such as sunshine and light.
4.2.1.3 From Tactile to Gustation Domain
(4a) I think it tastes soft and mild. (OED)
(4b) Ebony is somewhat sour and biting in taste, and it catches fire quickly if it
comes near, and makes things soft and sweet. (University of Michigan Middle English
Dictionary)
Over time, the meaning of "soft" has expanded from describing tactile texture to
also encompassing taste, indicating a sensation that is not overly stimulating. The five
tastes of sour, sweet, bitter, hot, and salty have no excessive taste in the dish, resulting
in a soft and mild taste. In (4a), the words “soft and mild” are used together to indicate
that they taste soft and give people a feeling of satisfaction. In (4b), “soft and sweet”
means that the dish changes from sour to sweet after seasoning, so the taste is not very
stimulating. Here “soft” expands to "pleasing in taste; relatively free from acidity,
sharpness, or sourness on the palate”, having [+TASTE], [+PLEASANT] [-TOUCH]
15
meaning.
4.2.1.4 From Tactile to Auditory Domain
(5a) Why the voice that is soft and demure…(EEBO)
(5b) with a lute or other music of soft melody…(EEBO)
(5c) Euen now me thinks I hear thy soft sound. (EEBO)
In (5a)(5b)(5c), the combination of “soft” with “voice”, “music” and “sound” are
used to describe the sound of relaxed, not harsh, to achieve the tactile softness to the
auditory relaxation, comfort because hearing the soothing sound, people thus produce
a pleasant version, The word “soft” was extended to “not loud, usually pleasant and
gentle”, which now included [-TOUCH],[+PHYSIOLOGY],
[+SOUND]and [+PLEASANT].
4.2.1.5 From the Tactile to Olfactory Domain
(6a) Among all the spices of the leopard, the spices of lion and elephant are the
worst. The others are soft and docile. (University of Michigan Middle English
Dictionary)
(6b) Its seed is red, its scent is soft and sweet, and it has good effects.
(University of Michigan Middle English Dictionary)
Through the experience of smell using the nose, humans gradually extended the
tactile sensation of “soft” to describe scents, specifically a mild odor that is not pungent
or strong, adding [+SMELL] semantic extension.
Figure4-1 Semantic Extension of “soft” for Five Senses in Old and Middle English
4.2.2 Soft for Characters
(7a) He is a mild, soft, and good man. (University of Michigan Middle English
Dictionary)
(7b) He was meek, humble, and soft to all manner of men, both to strangers and to
16
his subjects. (University of Michigan Middle English Dictionary)
(8a) He has a soft greeting and drinks that are pleasant. (EEBO)
(8b) Always his demeanor is sober and soft, and wherever he goes, he often blesses.
(University of Michigan Middle English Dictionary)
(9a) For you, Lord, are sweet and soft. (University of Michigan Middle English
Dictionary)
The archetypal category of “soft” is extended to describe a person's inner softness.
“soft heart” in (7a)(7b) is extended to be gentle characters, that is “moderate or
restrained in character; carried on, performed, etc., without harshness, severity, or
violence”. “soft” adds the meaning of [+CHARACTER], [+MODERATE], [-TOUCH],
[-PHYSIOLOGY].
In(8a) (8b), when "soft" and "greeting" are combined, it means that “A person is
well-behaved and polite. without harshness, roughness, severity, or violence.” “soft”
adds the meaning of [+GENTLE],[+MANNER],[-TOUCH],[-PHYSIOLOGY]. While
in (9a), “Of a person: gentle or sympathetic in nature or character; inclined to be
merciful, lenient, or kind, considerate in dealing with others ”. “Soft” increases the
meaning of [+KIND].
(10a) These people, who were formerly manly and worthy in arms, have become
soft and delicate like women. (EEBO)
(10b) Meg’s soft temperament made her reluctant to voice her true feelings, often
changing her mind in hopes of pleasing everyone around her. (EEBO)
(11a) Young men are strong and old men are soft. (EEBO)
On the one hand, from a psychological aspect, in (10a), and (10b) people with a
weak character often have no opinion, easy to change their ideas, timid, and uncertain,
so the words that express physiological feelings derive “soft” that express similar
psychological feelings. If a person's character is too weak, they will be more susceptible
to the influence of the surrounding environment and people, be very unstable, and
unable to resist external interference. Therefore, “soft” has [+COMPLIANT] and
[+COURAGE], meaning “A tendency to be compliant, easily swayed, or
impressionable, often used about a person's emotional or mental disposition.”
On the other hand, from a physical point of view, in(11a), a person's weak character
17
may be due to the lack of muscle and strength, so “soft” also means “Weak in character
(of a man or boy) lacking in stereotypically masculine qualities, displaying
characteristics”, adding the meaning of [+WEAK].
Figure4-2 Semantic Extension of “soft” for Characters in Old and Middle English
4.2.3 Soft for State
(12a) This soft winter has passed and the snow is gone. (EEBO)
(12b) The day is soft and clear, with no storm or bluster to hinder our way. (EEBO)
(13a) The sea was soft and still, no wind nor wave to trouble the ship. (EEBO)
(13b) The stream was soft, as it meandered through the valley without haste.
(EEBO)
(14a) The fire was soft, with no great flame, only a gentle glow. (EEBO)
(14b) Set the oven to a soft heat, so the bread can rise slowly without burning.
(EEBO)
(15a) The signs thereof are strong swellings, soft fevers, and slight pain.
(University of Michigan Middle English Dictionary)
(15b) Caustic medicine burns the skin and the flesh and brings in a coal without
great pain; therefore, the action of it is said to be weak, slow, or soft. (University of
Michigan Middle English Dictionary)
When expanding from the realm of touch to the realm of natural things, in
(12a)(12b), “soft” is used to describe winter and how the weather makes people feel
mild and comfortable so it has the meaning of [+NATURE][+STATE][+CALM],
meaning “Of weather, a season, a day, etc. Free from storms, rough winds, or cold or
chill;” In addition, in (13a) (13b), when “soft” is combined with “stream” and “sea”, it
18
indicates the state of natural things, extending from a soft and mild state to a calm state.
a stable state means “Of the sea, a stream, etc.: free from rough waves or turbulence;
smooth, calm; running calmly or gently”. As a result, “soft” extends to [+NATURE],
[+CALM], [+STATE]. Nevertheless, “soft heat” and “soft fire” in (14a)(14b) describe
mild heat and a source of fire, having the semantic component of [+PLEASANT]. From
experience, we know that touching soft materials will feel gentle and comfortable.
Gentle fire sources will also bring comfortable and pleasant feelings. So, “soft” now
means “Of a fire, an oven, etc.: burning slowly or gently; moderate or gentle in heat or
intensity;” The term "soft" is associated with "medicine" and "pain" to describe the way
medicine, disease, and pain can spread. It suggests that the peaceful quality of “soft” in
nature reflects the gradual spread of medication, implying “the action of a medicine is
gradual, and in the case of a fever or death, it tends to be slow.” “Soft” extends the
meaning of [+MEDICINE].
(16a) Then they took him laid it upon a stone, and he became so soft. (University
of Michigan Middle English Dictionary)
(17a) He did not take a soft pace, but went there very hastily. (University of
Michigan Middle English Dictionary)
(17b) Then they began to ride at a soft pace. (University of Michigan Middle
English Dictionary)
The word “soft” describes the dynamic and static of a person with similar elements
to that of natural things, with the sense of [+COMFORT], [+CALM], [+STATE]. For
example, in (16a), “soft” means a state of being at ease, “In a quiet or peaceful state;
comfortably or easily;” The dynamic collocation of “soft” and people can also indicate
the state of human action, meaning “Involving little or no exertion or effort; free from
toil or labor; easy, comfortable; lazy, idle.” “Soft” add [+LAZY] semantic description.
In(17a) (17b), the combination of “soft” and “pace” can indicate the speed of
people’s movement, and gentle expansion into a gentle speed, that is, “Slow, unhurried;
slow-moving; of pace, movement, etc.: leisurely, easy; also, stealthy;” “Soft" has more
[+SPEED] semantics, [+ACTION], and [-STATE].
When describing the state, “soft” can be the stable state of nature, the static and
dynamic state of human beings, completing the expansion from the physical domain to
19
the non-physical domain.
Figure4-3 Semantic Extension of “soft” for State in Old English and Middle English
To sum up, from the five senses, “soft” in Old and Middle English completed the
semantic extension from the touch domain to the smell, taste, visual, and hearing
domains. In terms of the attributes of things, “soft” realizes the expansion from the
physical domain to the non-physical domain, and can describe people's personality,
feelings, and so on. In terms of state, “soft” can describe both the non-deformed state
of things in nature and the static state of human peace, as well as the dynamic speed.
Figure4-4 Semantic Extension of “soft” in 1000-1500
4.3 The Semantic Extension of “Soft” in Early Modern English
(1500–1700)
After 1500, “soft” has experienced the semantic extension of many fields from
touch to vision, hearing, psychology, human characteristics, physical properties, and
movement. In each domain, the word “soft” deepens into a different meaning, all
centered around its prototype. As the language evolved, “soft” gradually included more
abstract meanings, representing a multi-level metaphorical expansion from sensory
20
experiences to abstract features.
4.3.1 Semantic Extension in Tactile, Auditory and Visual Domains
4.3.1.1 Soft for Texture
(1a) Þe sófte buttir of cristes passioun is broute in to þe chirne of þe herte forto
sople it. (OED)
(18a) This pale tree, to those tender leaves of soft silken flax. (EEBO)
(18b) It is a fish with soft smooth skin. (EEBO)
(18a) is a semantic extension of (1a). Whether the surface of the object is smooth.
It is generally difficult to make a clear judgment with the naked eye, so it is necessary
to touch it or contact it with the body's skin to get an accurate feeling. Therefore, it can
be inferred that “soft” has the meaning of [+TOUCH], [+PHYSIOLOGY], and
[+SMOOTH]. In reality, both soft silken flax and soft smooth skin could give people a
feeling of comfort and enjoyment. Therefore, [+PLEASANT] semantic component in
the meaning of “soft” add to “smooth and pleasant to touch”.
4.3.1.2 Soft for Appearance
(3a) The soft light of the candle danced upon the walls. (EEBO)
(19a) This sword has imprinted on my soft skin. (EEBO)
(19b) I will bind her soft body securely with bands of steel. (EEBO)
(20a) I do not love you for those soft red, coral lips. (EEBO)
In (3a), to mobilize visual feelings, "soft light" is a soft light, which completed the
expansion from the tactile domain to the visual domain 1,500 years ago. Therefore, the
combination of "soft" and "skin" means that the skin is soft and smooth, and people
usually mobilize their visual senses when judging the texture of things. And because a
smooth touch can bring people a better experience, this smooth and soft can bring
people emotional pleasure.
The word “soft” is extended to “Something soft is pleasant to touch, and not
rough or hard.” with the meaning of [+TOUCH], [+PHYSIOLOGY], and
[+PLEASANT]. While, (19a) mobilizes the deepening of the visual senses, and the
soft touch extends to describe the smooth and soft state of the object, and “soft” is
“Free from ruggedness or incongruity; Pleasing in appearance, characterized by
21
subtlety or softness in visual elements.”, with the meaning of
[-TOUCH], [+SHAPE].
However, in (19b), “soft” is used to describe a woman’s graceful figure. When
describing the body, “soft” emphasizes an elegant and streamlined shape, which is both
soft on the touch, delicate and beautiful on the sight. “soft” has thus been extended to
describe people’s good looks, refinement, and the visual performance of soft without
impact, meaning "refined, delicate appearance” with [+DELICATE],
[+APPEARANCE]. In (20a), “Refined, delicate appearance” extends the basic meaning
of “soft” and changes from the soft tactile domain to the visual domain, colors that have
no provocative impact on the eyes, meaning “not strikingly or obtrusively bright; quiet
or muted color”, adding the meaning of [+COLOR], [-TOUCH].
4.3.1.2 Soft for Speech
(21a) I hoped a soft word might have found pardon. (EEBO)
(21b) …whose simple heart could never lodge a guile in a soft word. (EEBO)
When “soft” is extended to the auditory domain, it refers to the sound “not loud,
usually pleasant and gentle”. Sound is the carrier of language. As “soft” and “word” are
combined, people can listen to pleasant words without feeling harsh or offensive.
People naturally act on emotions to feel pleasure, so “soft” also has the meaning of
[+PLEASANT], [+SOUND], [+MILD], which is “Of words, language, etc. Not harsh,
angry, or offensive; tending to tone down or minimize something unpleasant; courteous,
conciliatory, mild”.
Figure4-5 Semantic Extension of “soft” in Tactile, Visual and Auditory in 1500-1700
22
4.3.2 Soft for Characters
(11a) Young men are strong and old men are soft. (EEBO)
(22a) soft in the head (EEBO)
In (22a), “soft” expands from the physical realm to the mental realm. In (11a),
people associate “soft” with a lack of firmness, stability, and strength, the absence of
strength means [+WEAK], and this weakness extends to the psychological aspect,
meaning that the mind is not clear. In (22a), “soft head” means that the mind is not
"clear, dull and fuzzy", which is a metaphorical extension from the physical world to
the cognitive world. With the meaning of “Colloquially used to describe someone
foolish, easily imposed upon, or lacking intelligence (potentially offensive) ”. “soft”
has the meaning of [+FOOL], [+ABILITY], [-TOUCH].
4.3.3 Soft for Physical Properties and Motion
(23a) The carriage moved with a soft grace, gliding smoothly over the
cobblestones. (EEBO)
(24a) The landscape unfolded with a series of soft rises, each leading to the next
in a gentle embrace of the horizon. (EEBO)
In (23a), “soft” does not directly refer to physical softness, but describes a smooth,
elegant, and conflict-free movement, from describing the texture of an object to
describing the smooth movement. That is, “Smooth movement is soft”. “Soft” has the
semantic meaning of [+SMOOTH], [+MOTION], [-TOUCH], meaning “Of an axle or
mechanical part, having a smooth, easy motion”.
In (24a), “soft rises” is used to describe the relief of the terrain, implying that “rise”
is not steep or sudden but is gradual and gentle. Similar to the previous sentence, “soft”
here refers to a slow and smooth change, not just physical softness. The rise and fall of
the terrain are depicted as a gradual transition like a gentle gesture, not a sharp or rough
movement, “soft” means that “gradual, gentle slope or ascent”, adding semantics
[+GENTEL],[+SLOPE].
23
Figure4-6 Semantic Extension of “soft” in 1500-1700
4.4 The Semantic Development of “Soft” in Late Modern English
(1700–2024)
4.4.1 Soft for State of Matter
4.4.1.1 Soft for Solid
(25a) This little-known woman more resembles a math teacher than a gambling
mogul, with staid outfits and soft pottery brogue. (English Trend 2014-Today)
(25b) Chihuly's soft glass uses the indirect heat of room-sized kilns. (English
Trend 2014-Today)
In (25a), “soft” describes the characteristics of the pottery. Soft pottery refers to
ceramics fired at low temperatures, which are weak and relatively prone to deformation.
The meaning "soft" extends to the physical properties of material related to its non-hard
texture and fragility when fired at low temperatures, “soft” is “made from clay or a
paste and fired at a low temperature”, has [+QUALITY], [-TOUCH], [+MATERIAL].
Specifically, (25b) is similar to (25a), “soft” is used to describe the properties of glass.
Compared with hard glass, soft glass can be softened at a lower temperature and has
better-shaping properties. Here, “soft” refers to its physical properties, and means
“softening at a relatively low temperature when heated” with [-TOUCH].
(26a) He is believed to be part of an international gang involved in smuggling soft
drugs. (English Trend 2014-Today)
(27a) The need to attain a balance between working efficiency and the shift
towards smaller dimensions propels the use of soft magnetic materials in the automotive
24
industry. (English Trend 2014-Today)
In (26a), “soft” describes the nature of drugs, referring to those that are more mild
and less harmful. “Soft” extends from a physical attribute to an abstract concept, used
to represent the harm and dependence of drugs, implying that it has less negative effects
on users and is more acceptable, meaning “referring to drugs that are considered less
harmful and less likely to cause addiction”. “soft” is expressed as [-HARMFUL]
[+MILD]. And (27a), similar to the above, describes the material properties of the
object. “Soft magnetic materials” are materials that are easily magnetized but do not
retain magnetism, such as ferrite materials. The meaning of “soft” is easy to change and
extended to the variability of magnetic materials with [+QUALITY] [+MAGNETIC]
[+EASY]. “Soft” here means “Readily magnetized by an ambient magnetic field, but
not retaining permanent magnetization.”
4.4.1.2 Soft for Liquid
(28a) It may also contaminate the drinking water – particularly in a soft water area.
(BNC)
(28b) The next soft drink to pass your lips, or the next gallon of petrol in your car.
(BNC)
(29a) Make sure to dump the complete package, scrub it using a soft detergent,
and re-fill it once weekly. (English Trend 2014-Today)
The “soft” prototype category is “having a surface that offers only limited
resistance to pressure. Not hard or firm to the touch”, The “surface” here usually refers
to the deformation on the solid-state that is very large and low hardness, because of the
flexibility of liquid. In real life, humans often cannot feel the liquefied state of things
through the touch, the prototype category of "soft" has no relative description of this.
When “soft” moves from the solid domain to the liquid domain, it retains its meaning
of hardness. For example, in (28a), and (28b), the content of salt substances dissolved
in water is less, called “soft water”, because this water has a better washing effect, and
is not easy to form scale. So humans would be healthier to drink them, and the soft
substance attacks people with a smaller effect similar to the damage, so the meaning of
“soft” extends to the liquid domain. Used to describe water with less salt, its meaning
is expanded to “not containing mineral salts and therefore good for washing”, adding
25
semantics [+WATER], [-HARMFUL], [+MINERAL SALTS]. In (28b), “soft” can also
be used to describe liquids that contain less than 0.5% alcohol, natural or artificially
formulated, and have less stimulating ingredients. Therefore, “soft drink” is called a
non-alcoholic beverage, adding [+ALCOHOL] meaning. “Soft” extends its meaning to
liquids by taking advantage of the soft connotation in solids. “not containing mineral
salts and therefore good for washing.” and “not alcoholic.” When “soft” combined with
“detergent” can also describe the mild properties of the liquid, mild cleaning products
that does not cause damage to the item or excessive chemical reactions. “soft” contains
[+MILD], [+EFFECTIVENESS], meaning “Detergents, pesticides, etc., that are readily
biodegradable and relatively short-lived in the environment. ”
4.4.1.3 Soft for Gas
(30a) soft nitrogen gas (BNC)
In the same way that “soft” extends to gas, because gases also have intangible
characteristics, humans often cannot feel the gasification state of things by touch, and
when “soft” moves from the solid domain to the gas domain, it maintains its meaning
of hardness. For example, in (30a), “soft” is used to describe gases with less brittleness
and lower hardness, “soft nitrogen gas” is a low-temperature carbonitriding GAS
dominated by nitriding, and “soft” increases the meaning of [+GAS].
Here “soft” extends the prototype category to describe the physical properties of
objects, and realizes the expansion from solid to liquid and gas, showing that “soft” is
related to the characteristics of low strength, easy to change, mild, and harmless.
Figure4-6 Semantic Extension of “soft” for State of Matter in 1700-2024
26
4.4.2 Soft for Physical Properties and Motion
(31a) The Christchurch City Council has since had to remove the play structure,
which had two slides with platforms, and the soft fall matting surrounding it. (English
Trend 2014-Today)
(32a) We started poorly and gave away a soft goal. (English Trend 2014-Today)
(33a) The pace has slowed, but we are far away from the soft landing we want.
(English Trend 2014-Today)
(34a) It is time for the EU to seize the opportunity in Ukraine and make its soft
power count. (English Trend 2014-Today)
In (31a), “soft” extends from being physically soft to describing an environment
that reduces impact. It implies a cushioning effect between the object and the surface,
so that falls do not cause injury. Therefore, “soft” extends to the function of mitigating
impact
and
avoiding
damage,
with
the
semantics
of
[+PROTECTION],
[+PHYSICALITY], [+QUALITY], with the meaning of “made to land on a yielding or
cushioning surface, or in such a way as to escape injury.” In (32a), “soft” extends from
physical touch to degree-related words. “Soft goal” refers to an easy goal. “soft”
extends from physical softness to an easy, meaning that “unchallenging situation,
implying a lack of defensive strength or unchallenging state.” Here, “soft” has been
extended with [+EASY], [+MISTAKE], [-DEFENSE] with the meaning of “A goal or
try that is easily scored, typically due to poor defending.”
Furthermore, in (33a) “soft” and “landing” refer to a physical landing, but rather
to an ideal situation, a smooth transition or change without major impact. The sense of
softness and gentleness is used to describe the degree, extended to the degree of
gentleness without great impact. Thus, “soft” expands to “a controlled landing that
avoids serious damage”, with [+GENTLE], [+TRANSITION], [+SMOOTH] semantics.
Finally, the word “soft” combined with “power” refers to the national capacity of nonmilitary means, including cultural attractiveness, values, and other means. “soft” does
not have a physical meaning, but by extension, describes non-violent, moderate
influence, extending from the physical domain to the non-physical domain. "soft"
includes [+INFLUENCE], [+PERSUASION], a way of dealing with other countries
that involves using economic and cultural influence to persuade them to do things,
27
rather than military power”.
(35a) Our Zoning Code, like most in Westchester, favors soft goods retail because
it is perceived as having the least impact on parking. (English Trend 2014-Today)
The original category of “soft” is “having a surface that offers only limited
resistance to pressure. Not hard or firm to the touch.” Soft things are easy to be
deformed, so they are more likely to be damaged. In (35a), the combination of “soft”
and “good” is used to describe those goods that are easily perishable and perishable,
such as food, textiles, etc. “soft” converts the physical softness into the characteristics
of goods that are easily perishable and damaged, so it has the meaning of
[+PERISHABLE], [+FRAGILE].
4.4.3 Soft for Standpoint
(7a) He is a mild, soft, and good man. (University of Michigan Middle English
Dictionary)
(36a) However, the relative tolerance and soft political stance of al-Sistani are
more likely to limit this discomfort. (English Trend 2014-Today)
In (7a), “soft” means “moderate or restrained in character; carried on, performed,
etc., without harshness, severity, or violence”, when “soft” is combined with “stance”,
In (36a) extends from the mental domain to the viewpoint domain. This psychological
moderation extends to the moderation, flexibility, and compromise of political factions
or positions. The metaphor of “soft” conveys the avoidance of extremes and the pursuit
of
balance
and
reconciliation,
[+MODERATE],[+FLEXIBILITY],[+COMPROMISE]
which
covers
semantically,
meaning
“designating a comparatively moderate faction or section within a political party”.
4.4.3 Soft for Discipline and Law
(37a) They were simply transporters, charged with picking up an illegal haul from
fishing boats far out in the Pacific and depositing it in some port with soft laws on shark
exports.
(English Trend 2014-Today)
(38a) The criterion for inclusion here should be relevance, which is not necessarily
the same as acceptance within a narrow professional field, especially for soft subjects
28
like philosophy. (English Trend 2014-Today)
The original category of “soft” is “things are easy to change shape, not fixed,
giving people a feeling of firmness and infirmity”. In (37a) when “soft” is combined
with “law”, describes the flexibility, not strict and not tough of laws or regulations.
Originally used to describe physically flexible or elastic objects, it was extended to
describe the rule that is “not rigid or strict; involving some compromise or flexibility”.
By metaphor, “soft” has the meaning of [+FLEXIBLE], [+ADAPTABLE], [-TOUCH].
In (38a), this flexibility can also be extended to disciplines, indicating flexibility,
uncertainty, and disciplines with relatively loose scientific standards and a lack of hard
data, such as literature and sociology. soft has [-RIGID], which means “regarded as
relatively unscientific or undemanding.”
Figure4-6 Semantic Extension of “soft” in 1700-2024
5 The Characteristics of Semantic Extension of “Soft” in
Metaphor
Through the analysis of the first four chapters, this article discusses the semantic
extension of “soft” in different contexts, revealing how the word is derived from the
physical properties of the original category through metaphorical thinking.
The
meaning of “touch” of soft extends to a variety of abstract domains, becoming a
versatile term to describe non-physical properties. So, this chapter will summarize the
main ways and characteristics of the semantic extension of “soft” mentioned above.
29
5.1 The Category Number of Extended Senses of Word “Soft”
Through the detailed analysis of the semantic change of “soft” in Chapter 4, the
following table provides a comprehensive collection of its specific meanings.
Table 5-1 Semantic Extension of “Soft” Collection
Domain
Semantic Components
[＋TOUCH]
Tactile
Vision
Gustation
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+PLEASANT]
[+TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+SMOOTH]
[+TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+QUALITY]
[+PLEASANT]
[-TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+LIGHT]
[-TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+COLOR]
[-TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+APPEARANCE]
[+DELICATE]
[-TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+SHAPE]
[-TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+TASTE],
[+PLEASANT]
[-TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+SOUND]
Meaning
having a surface that offers only
limited resistance to pressure. Not
hard or firm to the touch;
Something soft is pleasant to touch,
and not rough or hard;
smooth and pleasant to touch;
The quality of being soft and yielding;
Also: that which presents a yielding
surface to the touch.
Of the sun, light, etc.: shining gently,
mildly;
Not strikingly or obtrusively bright;
quiet or muted color;
Refined or Delicate: Refined, delicate
appearance;
Free from ruggedness or incongruity;
Pleasing in appearance, characterized
by subtlety or softness in visual
elements.
Pleasing in taste; relatively free from
acidity, sharpness, or sourness on the
palate；
not loud, usually pleasant and gentle;
30
[+PLEASANT]
[-TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+PLEASANT]
[+SOUND]
[+MILD]
[-TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
Smell
[+PLEASANT]
[+SMELL]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+CHARACTER],
[+MODERATE]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+GENTLE]
[+MANNER]
[-TOUCH]
Characters [-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+KIND]
Auditory
Sense
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+COMPLIANT]
[+COURAGE]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+WEAK]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[-ABILITY]
[+FOOL]
State
[-TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+NATURE]
[+STATE]
[+CALM]
Of words, language, etc. Not harsh,
angry, or offensive; tending to tone
down or minimize something
unpleasant; courteous; conciliatory;
mild
mild-odor: not pungent or strong;
moderate or restrained in character;
carried on, performed, etc., without
harshness, severity, or violence;
A person with a gentle manner;
without
harshness,
roughness,
severity, or violence.
Of a person: gentle or sympathetic in
nature or character; inclined to be
merciful, lenient, or kind, considerate
in dealing with others.
A tendency to be compliant, easily
swayed, or impressionable, often used
in reference to a person's emotional or
mental disposition.
Weak in character; (of a man or boy)
lacking in stereotypically masculine
qualities, displaying characteristics;
Colloquially used to describe someone
foolish, easily imposed upon, or
lacking
intelligence
(potentially
offensive);
Of weather, a season, a day, etc. Free
from storms, rough winds, or cold or
chill; calm, mild, balmy;
Of the sea, a stream, etc.: free from
rough waves or turbulence; smooth,
calm; running calmly or gently;
Of a fire, an oven, etc.: burning slowly
or gently; moderate or gentle in heat or
intensity; slow
31
Physical
Properties
and
Motion
[-TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+MEDICINE]
[-TOUCH]
[+PHYSIOLOGY]
[+COMFORT]
[+CALM] [+STATE]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+LAZY] [+STATE]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+SPEED]
[+ACTION]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+SMOOTH]
[+MOTION]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+GENTEL]
[+SLOPE]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+PROTECTION],
[+PHYSICALITY],
[+QUALITY]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+EASY]
[+MISTAKE]
[-DEFENSE]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+GENTLE],
[+TRANSITION]
[+SMOOTH]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+PERISHABLE]
[+FRAGILE]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
of the action of a medicine: gradual; of
a fever, death: slow, prolonged;
In a quiet or peaceful
comfortably or easily;
state;
Involving little or no exertion or effort;
free from toil or labor; easy,
comfortable; lazy, idle.
Slow, unhurried; slow-moving; of
pace, movement, etc.: leisurely, easy;
also, stealthy;
Of an axle or mechanical part, having
a smooth, easy motion”. In (24a)，“soft
rises;
soft” means that “gradual, gentle slope
or ascent;
Made so as to land on a yielding or
cushioning surface, or in such a way as
to escape injury;
A goal or try that is easily scored,
typically due to poor defending;
controlled landing that avoids serious
damage;
Goods that are perishable or relatively
perishable;
a way of dealing with other countries
that involves using economic and
32
[+INFLUENCE]
[+PERSUASION]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+QUALITY]
[+MATERIAL]
[-TOUCH]
[+MATERIAL]
[-PHYSICALITY]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[-HARMFUL]
[+MILD]
State
of [-TOUCH]
Matter
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+QUALITY]
[+MAGNETIC]
[+EASY]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+WATER]
[-HARMFUL]
[+MINERAL SALTS]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+WATER]
[+ALCOHOL]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+MILD]
[+EFFECTIVENESS]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[+GAS]
[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
Standpoint [+MODERATE]
[+FLEXIBILITY]
[+COMPROMISE]
Discipline [-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
and Law
[+FLEXIBLE]
[+ADAPTABLE]
cultural influence to persuade them to
do things, rather than military power;
made from clay or a paste and fired at
a low temperature;
softening at a relatively
temperature when heated;
low
Referring to drugs that are considered
less harmful and less likely to cause
addiction;
Readily magnetized by an ambient
magnetic field, but not retaining
permanent magnetization;
not containing mineral salts and
therefore good for washing;
not alcoholic;
Detergents, pesticides, etc., that are
readily biodegradable and relatively
short-lived in the environment;
nitrogen gas
designating a comparatively moderate
faction or section within a political
party;
Not rigid or strict; involving some
compromise or flexibility;
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[-TOUCH]
[-PHYSIOLOGY]
[-RIGID]
regarded as relatively unscientific or
undemanding;
5.2 The Characteristics of Semantic Extension of “Soft” in Metaphor
(1) The original meaning of “soft” is stable.
The meaning of the word "soft" may evolve, but it consistently retains its core
characteristics. Despite social changes, the original meaning of a word maintains a
degree of stability.
(2) From simple to abstract meaning
There are three basic states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. The solid-state is the
most fundamental and serves as the basis for our perception of external objects. It also
forms the physical foundation of the original meaning of the word “soft.”
As the
meaning of “soft” expands, it transitions from the solid domain to the liquid domain,
and then to the gaseous domain. This can be observed in phrases like “soft water” and
“soft drink.” Overall, this illustrates the progression of matter from simpler composition
stages to more complex ones.
(3) Synesthesia
Touch is one of the five human senses, which is the basis for people to obtain other
senses or higher-level senses. As can be seen from the previous analysis, "soft", as a
sense of touch, can evolve into a sense of sight, smell, taste, and hearing, which is used
to describe the experience brought by sound, smell, color, and texture. Such as "soft
color", "soft sound", "soft light", "soft smell" and so on.
(4) From describing concrete material to abstract emotion
“soft” from the description of tangible things to the description of intangible things
reflects the way of human thinking, from the things that can be touched to the human
brain to constantly process, forming an abstract understanding of these kinds of things,
which also reflects the philosophical principle that consciousness is the active reflection
of matter. Therefore, the meaning of "soft" can be extended to describe abstract
concepts such as human character, state, action, physical attributes, and degree. Such
as "soft law", "soft man", "soft landing", "soft in the head", etc.
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6 Conclusion
Metaphor is not only a rhetorical device, but also a basic way of human thinking
and cognition. Metaphors can apply known concepts and experiences to new and
unfamiliar areas, leading to a deeper understanding and expression of the world. The
extension of sense adjective is the embodiment of this kind of metaphorical thinking.
Using the theories of conceptual metaphor and archetypal category, this paper
studies the lexical expansion of the English tactile adjective "soft" with social changes,
and reveals the cross-domain mapping features of its lexical expansion. This evolution
is dynamic, evolving with changes in society, culture, technology, and human thinking.
Metaphorical thinking plays a bridging role in this process, connecting concrete and
abstract, reality and imagination. By connecting concrete sensory experience with
abstract concepts, conceptual metaphor can realize the expansion of "soft" from the
tactile domain to the auditory and visual domain, the olfactory domain, the taste domain,
the liquid domain to the solid domain or the gas domain, from the description of
tangible things to intangible things, and from the description of concrete attributes to
human character. These also show how humans perceive the world, from simple
concepts to complex ones.
It is important for language learners to have a deep understanding of the role of
metaphor in word meaning extension. Mastering metaphorical thinking can not only
help learners understand and use language more thoroughly, but also significantly
improve the accuracy and richness of language expression. In addition, a keen insight
into social changes helps learners to better capture the dynamic evolution of language.
To sum up, the study of the extension of sense adjectives combined with
metaphorical thinking can not only help language learners to understand the internal
mechanism of word meaning change, but also help us to have a deeper understanding
of the complexity of human thinking and cognition as well as the dynamic and creative
nature of language.
35
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