The dynamics of language and culture in lexical semantics and discourse

Abstract This special issue explores the relationship between language, culture, and cognition through studies of lexical semantics, semantic change, metaphor, and discourse. Bringing together perspectives from cognitive linguistics, cultural linguistics, cognitive ethnolinguistics, and discourse studies, it examines how culturally grounded conceptual structures guide processes of meaning construction and how they are negotiated and transformed through language use. Ranging from grammatical gender and phraseology to political discourse, science communication, and ritual practice, the contributions show that meaning emerges through the interaction of cognitive processes, cultural knowledge, historical developments, and social practices. Together, they offer a comprehensive account of meaning-making across lexical, semantic, and discourse levels of linguistic organization.