The representation of foot/leg polysemy in the mind — Insights from Vietnamese body part extensions with chân

Body part terms serve multiple functions across languages, influencing both everyday communication and conceptual segmentation of objects. This article explores the mental representation and polysemous meanings of body part terms, focusing on cross-linguistic patterns and the uses of the Vietnamese word chân 'foot, leg'. The qualitative analysis reveals that the meaning extensions of chân are linked to both perceptual and sensorimotor features. The findings suggest that chân is represented as two distinct entries in the mental lexicon. However, the analysis proposes a more nuanced representation involving a network of meanings influenced by perceptual and sensorimotor features. This perspective aligns with the notion that polysemy involves interconnected meanings rather than strictly separate entries. The study elucidates the cognitive and cultural factors shaping meaning extensions with body part terms.