A Cognitive Stylistics Analysis of Sustainable Developments Goals

This paper explores how the mental representations activated by offloading the cognitive content of the SDGs contribute to the overall interpretation of ecological concepts. Utilizing Gavins' (2007) Text World Theory, which examines the mental models constructed by readers based on linguistic elements, the study delves into the discourse world in which the SDGs are situated and the mental representations activated by this discourse. Within the SDGs, this world is structured by four primary dimensions: Participants, Place, Time, and Sensory Inputs. Each of these components reveals how ecological concerns are constructed and how they guide and influence both global policymaking and individuals' cognitive engagement with sustainability issues. The analysis focuses on the roles of Participants and Communicators, where countries and governments serve as agents; the temporal dimensions of ecological action; and the sensory inputs that shape cognitive engagement with ecological narratives. This is further enriched by the stylistic linguistic features, which deepen the understanding of the SDGs’ ideological, narrative, and metaphorical underpinnings.