CONCEPTUAL INTEGRATION IN THE FORMATION OF IDIOMATIC COMPOUND NOUNS

Abstract

This thesis investigates the cognitive mechanisms underlying the formation of idiomatic compound nouns through the lens of Conceptual Integration Theory, also known as Blending Theory, as developed by Fauconnier and Turner (2002, 2003). Idiomatic compound nouns such as scarecrow, hotdog, and pickpocket exhibit non-compositional meanings that cannot be derived from the simple addition of their constituent parts. This paper argues that such compounds are the products of systematic conceptual blending processes involving two or more mental input spaces, selective projection, and emergent structure. By analysing a range of endocentric and exocentric idiomatic compounds, the study demonstrates that Conceptual Integration Theory provides a principled explanatory framework for understanding how novel and entrenched meanings arise in nominal compounding. The discussion addresses implications for language pedagogy, lexicography, and natural language processing.