O metaforycznych użyciach czasownika „dotknąć” (prolegomena)

Abstract

The article discusses selected instances of metaphorical usage of the symbolical unit dotknąć (‘to touch’) which are analysed from the semantic and cognitive perspective. T he author of the essay who bases her argument on the theory of conceptual metaphors considers the motivation of the metaphorical senses of the linguistic expression which is analysed. I n order to approach the string of the relevant semantic features whose representation between domains constitutes the basis for the emergence of new meanings, the author determines the source (spatial) domain, in which she describes the anteriorly singled out, prototypical usages of the verb dotknąć, and two areas within the target domain, i.e. the temporal domain as well as the mental domain. T he criterion for determining the aforementioned areas within the framework of the target domain is constituted by the ontological category by means of which one may characterise the entities which populate the right‑hand or left‑hand context of the unit that is described.