Properties and relations
In addition to constructing mental spaces and setting up new or existing elements within those spaces, meaning construction also processes information about how the elements contained within mental spaces are related. Space builders specify the properties assigned to elements and the relations that hold between elements within a single space. Consider example (2).
The space builder in example (2) is the phrase in that play, which sets up a mental space. In Figure 11.1 we diagram the mental space using a circle and label this mental space PLAY to show that the mental space represents the ‘world’ inside the play. The name Othello introduces an element into the mental space, which we label a, and the expression jealous assigns a property to the element (JEALOUS). This information is captured in the ‘dialogue box’ next to the mental space.
Now consider example (3).
Again, the prepositional phrase (PP) in the picture is a space builder that sets up a mental space which we label PICTURE in Figure 11.2. This shows that the mental space relates to the ‘world’ inside the picture. Two new elements are introduced: a witch and a unicorn. These are introduced as ‘new’ in the dis course because they have indefinite interpretation. In Figure 11.2, a represents the element prompted for by the expression witch, and b the element prompted for by the expression unicorn.
So far, the mental space in Figure 11.2 is only a partial representation of the sentence, because while it tells us that the picture contains a witch and a unicorn, it does not tell us whether a relation holds between them nor does it describe the nature of that relation. Mental spaces are internally structured by existing knowledge structures: frames and idealised cognitive models. The space builders, the elements introduced into a mental space and the properties and relations prompted for recruit this pre-existing knowledge structure, a process that we identified above as schema induction. For example, the space builder in sentence (3) prompts for the recruitment of a frame for PICTURES. The elements introduced prompt for the recruitment of frames relating to WITCHES AND WITCHCRAFT and MYTHICAL CREATURES such as UNICORNS. Finally, the expression is riding expresses a relation between the two elements and prompts for the RIDE frame. The RIDE frame brings with it two participant roles, one for a RIDER and one for the ENTITY RIDDEN. The RIDER role is mapped onto element a, introduced by the expression witch, and the ENTITY RIDDEN role is mapped onto element b, introduced by the expression unicorn. This establishes a relation between the two elements in the mental space. The completed mental space for example (3) with the additional structure resulting from schema induction is illustrated in Figure 11.3.
