A Cognitive Analysis of Personification Approaches and Extent in Chinese and Korean Cyborg Characters

Based on the theoretical framework of cognitive linguistics, this study analyzes the modes and degrees of anthropomorphizationof cyborg characters appearing in Chinese and Korean science fiction films. The findings can be summarized as follows:<br/> First, the Anthropomorphization of Cyborg Characters.The significance of the cyborg character expands from the human body outward, with primary modes of anthropomorphism including image schemas, conceptual metaphor, and conceptual blending.Firstly, thecontainer schemais one method for anthropomorphizing cyborgs. When a character’s appearance can no longer define its identity, directors often initiate the container schema by exposing internal structures to reveal the cyborg’s dual nature as both human and machine. For instance, exposed components in the head reveal the presence of an electronic brain, while the mouth discharges fired bullets, thereby demonstrating its hybrid human-machine characteristics.Secondly,conceptual metaphoralso serves as a crucial method for anthropomorphizing cyborgs. The mechanical parts of a cyborg are often represented via the “Machines are living beings” metaphor. Based on functional similarity, skeletal structures inform the construction of “exoskeleton” devices, while arms and snakes, due to their morphological resemblance, combine to form serpentine weapons.Finally,conceptual blendingillustrates the process of mapping and selectively projecting elements fromthe two input spaces of “human” and “machine”, resulting in the integrated cyborg character perceived by the audience. The selection of elements from these input spaces reflects choices made after “semantic struggle”. A “machine heart” retains the shape and archetypal color of a human heart but uses silver metallic material at the arterial interfaces to signify its mechanical properties. A cyborg with a human-like appearance exposes the presence of internal chips by replacing blood vessels with blue cables.Through modifications to different body parts, cyborgs in science fiction films give concrete formto humanity’s future visions of bodily function and extension. Simultaneously, they reveal howthese imaginings remain constrained by biological characteristics and cultural cognition.<br/> Second, the degree of anthropomorphizationof cyborg characters is influenced by their morphological form. The greater the skin coverage, the higher the degree of anthropomorphization; conversely, when mechanical elements occupy a larger proportion of the skin surface, the degree of anthropomorphization decreases. At the same time, films may intentionally emphasize certain body parts’ mechanical properties through visual representation, thereby reducing the character’s perceived humanity.<br/> Through this analysis, the study clarifies when audiences perceive “humanity”and when they perceive “mechanicality”in cyborgs. This insight is made possible by the application of cognitive linguistic theories, such as image schema, conceptual metaphor, and conceptual integration. Although cognitive linguistics has traditionally been applied to language studies, this research demonstrates how its major cognitive mechanisms can effectively explain character construction and narrative effects in film. In the context of the growing importance of multimodal analysis, integrating findings from linguistic studies provides a promising foundation for developing a comprehensive multimodal analytical methodologythat enables the examination of meaning from multiple perspectives.