Lexis of perception in contemporary English song discourse: Cognitive linguistics analysis

Research on how sensory perception is coded in language is driven by the need to understand the connection between perception and language, two central cognitive systems. Despite the growing scientific interest, the strength of this connection across various human experiences remains unclear. This study analyzes English song discourse, which, in our opinion, communicates important patterns in the use of lexis of perception. The objective of the research is to explore how this lexis operates within contemporary English song discourse. Employing cognitive linguistics methods, the study identifies features linking perception and language through quantitative and qualitative analyses of the lyrics of Billboard-charting English-speaking artists. Findings indicate that lexis of perception is used to map the conceptual domain of ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS. Identifying eight stages of romantic relationships, the study describes varying nominative densities of each stage. Notably, visual, tactile, and gustatory lexis are the ones most frequently employed. Furthermore, lexis of perception not only names typical attributes associated with different stages of romantic relationships but also contributes to forming conceptual metaphors that articulate sensory experiences within this domain. A future direction for this research involves a comparative analysis of how lexis of perception maps the conceptual domain of ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS in song and everyday discourse, aiming to uncover universal mechanisms for conceptualizing human experience through this lexis.