La dimension axiologique des extensions semantiques de "clair" et "sombre"

Abstract

Among the many linguistic means that enable us to express axiological judgement there are extended senses of different lexemes. The present paper deals with the axiological charges of such senses of French lexemes clair (clear) and sombre (dark) and their derivatives. While many examples show that the clair — sombre opposition coincides with the axiological opposition positive — negative, it is possible to find the reverse valuation, especially in the domain of auditory perception. Adopting the Cognitive Linguistics perspective, the author outlines the main postulates of axiological semantics (e.g. Krzeszowski, 1997, 1999) and its criticism (e.g. Hampe, 2005). After a brief presentation of the general tendency that concerns the axiological charge of clair — sombre in the domain of intellect, morality, and emotions, the author focuses on the axiological dimension of the extended senses of the two lexemes in auditory domain. The central question that is asked in the course of the analysis is the motivation behind this kind of axiological valuation.