Image-schematic analysis of the verb and the particle in the meaning construction of the phrasal verb “give up”

Abstract

This article is part of a series of analyzes of phrasal verbs composed by the particles “up” and “out” which I have been undertaking as part of my doctoral research. Here, I focus on the meaning construction of the phrasal verb “give up”, based on Conceptual Metaphor Theory (LAKOFF; JOHNSON, 1980) and on image schemas (LAKOFF, 1987; JOHNSON, 1987), abstract structures configured from our sensorimotor experiences. Initially, I investigated the etymological history of each term and the meanings of the phrasal verb offered by dictionaries. From there, I created animations for the imagery schemes projected by the verb and, based on the visual model for the meaning of particles, by Rudzka-Ostyn (2003). I also created imagery schemes for those projected by the “up” particle. Then, I tried to illustrate the definitions with animated diagrams, starting from the hypothesis that the sharing of image schemas by both terms can influence the degree of literality of the construction. Likewise, adding movement to diagrams may facilitate the understanding of the contribution of each of the phrasal verb components for the process of meaning construction.