COGNITIVE MECHANISMS OF MEANING CONSTRUCTION IN TOPONYMIC IDIOMS

Abstract

This article explores the cognitive mechanisms underlying meaning construction in toponymic idioms, focusing on how geographical names contribute to the formation and interpretation of figurative meanings. Toponymic idioms represent a unique intersection of language, culture and cognition, as they encode historical, social and cultural knowledge associated with specific places. Drawing on the theoretical framework of cognitive linguistics, particularly conceptual metaphor theory, conceptual metonymy and mental space theory, the study examines the processes through which place names acquire symbolic meanings and become integrated into idiomatic expressions.