Keywords
Cognitive linguistics, Corpus stylistics, Literary stylistics, Medical humanities, Metaphor, Non-literary stylistics, Stylistics
Research Areas
English Language and Linguistics
Professor Elena Semino
Head of Department, Professor
County South
Lancaster University
Bailrigg
Lancaster
United Kingdom
LA1 4YL
Email: Email Hidden
Tel: +44 1524 594176
Affiliations
PaSTY - Pragmatics and Stylistics Research Group
UCREL - University Centre for Computer Corpus Research on Language
My research interests are in stylistics, metaphor theory and analysis, and the medical humanities.
Stylistics: cognitive stylistics; corpus stylistics; mind style in prose fiction.
Metaphor theory and analysis: metaphor in literature, politics, science, health communication, end-of-life care; metaphor and embodied simulation; corpus approaches to the study of metaphor.
Medical humanities: representations of autism and mental illness in fictional and non-fictional narratives; (figurative) language, creativity and chronic pain.
PhD Supervision Interests
I am interested in supervising students in the following areas:
Metaphor in discourse: study of metaphor in literature, politics, science and health communication; corpus-based approaches to the study of metaphor.
Cognitive stylistics: integration of linguistic analysis with theories of cognition (e.g. Schema theory, Blending theory) in order to study literary texts; the linguistic construction of fictional text worlds; the linguistic construction of minds in fictional and non-fictional narratives.
Corpus stylistics: application of corpus methods to the study of literary texts.
Current Teaching
LING 102: English Language
LING 210: Stylistics
LING 306: Corpus approaches to English Language
LING 450: Stylistics
I teach Stylistics on the MA in English Language by Distance and the PhD in Applied Linguistics by Thesis and Coursework.
Career Details
Before joining the Department, I taught Italian as a foreign language at Napier Polytechnic (Edinburgh) and Lancaster University.
I hold a Visiting Professorship in the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Fuzhou University in China.
Research Interests
Stylistics - My work in stylistics focuses primarily on poetry and fictional and non-fictional narratives. I have a long-standing interest in 'mind style' - how distinctive fictional minds are linguistically constructed in novels. I am currently working on: the linguistic representation of autism in fiction; and the representation of the experience of schizophrenia in a non-fictional narrative, with Dr Zsófia Demjén (Open University).
Metaphor theory and analysis - I have worked on metaphor in literary texts and in a range of non-literary text-types, including political speeches, newspaper language, scientific communication and health communication. I was part of an international group of metaphor scholars who developed a methodology for the identification of metaphorical expressions in naturally-occurring language (see Pragglejaz Project ). I am currently working on: metaphor and the expression of chronic pain, in consultation with Prof Joanna Zakrzewska (Eastman Dental Hospital, London); and metaphor in end-of-life care, with funding from the ESRC: http://ucrel.lancs.ac.uk/melc/index.php
Medical humanities - I contribute to this broad interdisciplinary area with my research on narratives of autism and schizophrenia, and on metaphor in communication about health and illness.
Selected Publications
Language, mind and autism in Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Semino, E. 2013 Linguistics and Literary Studies. Fludernik, M. & Jacob, D. (eds.). De Gruyter
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Metaphor, genre and recontextualization
Semino, E., Deignan, A. & Littlemore, J. 2013 In: Metaphor and Symbol. 28, 1, p. 41-59, 19 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Figurative language, genre and register
Deignan, A., Littlemore, J. & Semino, E. 2013 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 330 p. (Cambridge Applied Linguistics).
Research output: Book/Report/Proceedings › Book
Metaphor in Discourse
Semino, E. 2008 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 247 p.
Research output: Book/Report/Proceedings › Book
Corpus stylistics: speech, writing and thought presentation in a corpus of English writing.
Semino, E. & Short, M. H. 2004 London: Routledge. 256 p.
Research output: Book/Report/Proceedings › Book
Cognitive stylistics: language and cognition in text analysis.
Semino, E. (ed.) & Culpeper, J. (ed.) 2002 Amsterdam: John Benjamins. 333 p. (Linguistic approaches to literature).
Research output: Book/Report/Proceedings › Anthology
Language and world creation in poems and other texts.
Semino, E. 1997 London: Longman. 288 p. (Textual Explorations).
Research output: Book/Report/Proceedings › Book
In Press
Language, mind and autism in Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Semino, E. 2013 Linguistics and Literary Studies. Fludernik, M. & Jacob, D. (eds.). De Gruyter
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
2013
Metaphor, genre and recontextualization
Semino, E., Deignan, A. & Littlemore, J. 2013 In: Metaphor and Symbol. 28, 1, p. 41-59, 19 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Figurative language, genre and register
Deignan, A., Littlemore, J. & Semino, E. 2013 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 330 p. (Cambridge Applied Linguistics).
Research output: Book/Report/Proceedings › Book
2011
La teoria del blending applicata alla letteratura: un'analisi di un racconto di Virginia Woolf
Semino, E. 2011 In: Italianistica: Rivista di Letteratura Italiana. 40, 3, p. 61-80, 20 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Rethinking 'inferred' thought presentation
Semino, E. 2011 In: Style. 45, 2, p. 296-300, 5 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Deixis and fictional minds
Semino, E. 2011 In: Style. 45, 3, p. 418-440, 23 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Stylistics
Semino, E. 2011 Routledge Handbook of Applied Linguistics. Simpson, J. (ed.). London: Routledge
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
Metaphor, creativity, and the experience of pain across genres
Semino, E. 2011 Creativity, Language, Literature: The State of the Art. Swann, J., Carter, R. & Pope, R. (eds.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 83-102 20 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
The adaptation of metaphors across genres
Semino, E. 2011 In: Review of Cognitive Linguistics. 9, 1, p. 130-152, 23 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
2010
Unrealistic scenarios, metaphorical blends and rhetorical strategies across genres.
Semino, E. 2010 In: English Text Construction. 3, 2, p. 250-274, 25 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Corpus techniques for metaphor analysis.
Deignan, A. & Semino, E. 2010 Metaphor Analysis: Research Practice in Applied Linguistics, Social Sciences and the Humanities. Cameron, L. & Maslen, R. (eds.). London: Equinox, p. 161-179 (Studies in Applied Linguistics).
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Descriptions of pain, metaphor and embodied simulation.
Semino, E. 2010 In: Metaphor and Symbol. 25, 4, p. 205-226, 22 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
2009
Metaphor and situational motivation
Semino, E. 2009 In: Quaderns de filología. Estudis lingüístics. 14, p. 221-233, 13 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Stylistics.
Semino, E. 2009 The Pragmatics Encyclopaedia. Cummings, L. (ed.). London: Routledge, p. 459-460 2 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
The language of newspapers.
Semino, E. 2009 English Language: Description, Variation and Context. Culpeper, J., Katamba, F., Kerswill, P., Wodak, R. & McEnery, T. (eds.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 439-453
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Metaphor, politics and gender: a case study from Italy
Semino, E. & Koller, V. 2009 Politics, Gender and Conceptual Metaphors. Ahrens, K. (ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 36-61 26 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Metaphor, politics and gender: a case study from Germany.
Koller, V. & Semino, E. 2009 Politics, Gender and Conceptual Metaphors. Ahrens, K. (ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 9-35 27 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Text worlds.
Semino, E. 2009 Cognitive Poetics: Goals, Gains and Gaps. Brone, G. & Vandaele, J. (eds.). Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, p. 33-71 39 p. (Applications of Cognitive Linguistics).
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
2008
Using a semantic annotation tool for the analysis of metaphor in discourse.
Koller, V., Hardie, A., Rayson, P. & Semino, E. 2008 In: metaphorik.de. 15, p. 141-160, 20 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Stylistics and Literary Evaluation
Short, M. H. & Semino, E. 2008 The quality of literature: Linguistic Studies in Literary evaluation. van Peer, W. (ed.). Amsterdam: John Benjamins, p. 117-37 243 p. (Linguistic Approaches to Literature).
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Metaphor in literature
Semino, E. & Steen, G. 2008 Cambridge Handbook of Metaphor and Thought. Gibbs, R. (ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 232-246 15 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Metaphor in Discourse
Semino, E. 2008 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 247 p.
Research output: Book/Report/Proceedings › Book
2007
MIP: a method for identifying metaphorically used words in discourse.
Pragglejaz, G. & Semino, E. 2007 In: Metaphor and Symbol. 22, 1, p. 1-39, 39 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Exploiting a Semantic Annotation Tool for Metaphor Analysis
Hardie, A., Koller, V., Rayson, P. & Semino, E. 2007
Research output: Contribution to conference › Conference paper
Metaphors for speaking and writing in the British press.
Heywood, J. & Semino, E. 2007 Language in the Media: Representations, Identities, Ideologies. Johnson, S. & Ensslin, A. (eds.). London: Continuum, p. 25-47
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Mind style 25 years on
Semino, E. 2007 In: Style. 41, 2, p. 153-173, 21 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
2006
Metaphor and fictional minds.
Semino, E. 2006 The metaphors of sixty. Benczses, R. & Csabi, S. (eds.). Budapest: Eötvös Loránd University Press
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Narrative skill in Bilgewater's prologue
Short, M. H., Semino, E. & Culpeper, J. 2006 The Art of English: Literary Creativity. Goodman, S. & O'Halloran, K. (eds.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 407-413 7 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
A corpus-based study of metaphors for speech activity in British English.
Semino, E. 2006 Corpora in Cognitive Linguistics: Conceptual Metaphors. Gries, S. T. & Stefanowitsch, A. (eds.). Amsterdam: John Benjamins, p. 35-60 26 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Blending and characters' mental functioning in Virginia Woolf's Lappin and Lapinova.
Semino, E. 2006 In: Language and Literature. 15, 1, p. 55-72, 18 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Cognitive poetics
Semino, E. 2006 The art of English. Goodman, S. & O'Halloran, K. (eds.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 37-44 8 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
2005
A computer-assisted approach to the analysis of metaphor variation across genres.
Semino, E., Hardie, A., Koller, V. & Rayson, P. 2005 Corpus-based Approaches to Figurative Language.. Barnden, J., Lee, M., Littlemore, J., Moon, R., Philip, G. & Wallington, A. (eds.). Birmingham: University of Birmingham School of Computer Science, p. 145-153 9 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Paper
The metaphorical construction of complex domains: the case of speech activity in English.
Semino, E. 2005 In: Metaphor and Symbol. 20, 1, p. 35-70, 36 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Source “scenes” and source “domains”: insights from a corpus-based study of metaphors for communication.
Semino, E. & Heywood, J. 2005 In: Proceeding of the Third Interdisciplinary Workshop on Corpus-Based Approaches to Figurative Language.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Possible worlds: stylistics applications.
Semino, E. 2005 Elsevier Encycloapedia of Language and Linguistics. Brown, K. (ed.). Elsevier, p. 777-782 6 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Mind style.
Semino, E. 2005 Elsevier Encyclopaedia of Language and Linguistics. Brown, K. (ed.). Elsevier, p. 142-148 7 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
2004
Corpus stylistics: speech, writing and thought presentation in a corpus of English writing.
Semino, E. & Short, M. H. 2004 London: Routledge. 256 p.
Research output: Book/Report/Proceedings › Book
Lancaster speech, writing and thought presentation spoken corpus.
Short, M. H., Semino, E. & McEnery, A. M. 2004
Research output: Other contribution
Methodological problems in the analysis of a corpus of conversations about cancer.
Semino, E., Heywood, J. & Short, M. H. 2004 In: Journal of Pragmatics. 36, 7, p. 1271-1294, 24 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Investigating the presentation of speech, writing and thought in British English: a corpus-based approach.
McIntyre, D., Bellard-Thomson, C., Heywood, J., McEnery, A. M., Semino, E. & Short, M. H. 2004 In: ICAME Journal. 28, p. 49-76, 28 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Representing characters' speech and thought in narrative fiction: A Study of England, England by Julian Barnes.
Semino, E. 2004 In: Style. 38, 4, p. 428-451, 24 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
2003
The construction of a corpus to investigate the presentation of speech, thought and writing in written and spoken British English.
McIntyre, D., Bellard-Thomson, C., Heywood, J., McEnery, A. M., Semino, E. & Short, M. 2003 Proceedings of the corpus linguistics 2003 conference. Archer, D., Rayson, P., McEnery, A. M. & Wilson, A. (eds.). Lancaster: Centre for Computer Corpus Research on Language Technical Papers, Lancaster University, Vol. 16 (sp, p. 513-522 10 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Discourse worlds and mental spaces.
Semino, E. 2003 Cognitive poetics in practice. Gavins, J. & Steen, G. (eds.). London: Routledge, p. 83-98 16 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
2002
Cognitive stylistics: language and cognition in text analysis.
Semino, E. (ed.) & Culpeper, J. (ed.) 2002 Amsterdam: John Benjamins. 333 p. (Linguistic approaches to literature).
Research output: Book/Report/Proceedings › Anthology
Revisiting the notion of faithfulness in discourse presentation using a corpus approach.
Short, M. H., Semino, E. & Wynne, M. 2002 In: Language and Literature. 11, 4, p. 325-355, 31 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Stylistics and linguistic variation in poetry.
Semino, E. 2002 In: Journal of English Linguistics. 30, 1, p. 28-50, 23 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
A sturdy baby or a derailing train? Metaphorical representations of the euro in British and Italian newspapers.
Semino, E. 2002 In: Text. 22, 1, p. 107-139, 33 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
A cognitive stylistic approach to mind style in narrative fiction.
Semino, E. 2002 Cognitive stylistics: language and cognition in text analysis. Semino, E. & Culpeper, J. (eds.). 1 ed. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, p. 95-122 28 p. (Linguistic approaches to literature).
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Linguistic metaphor identification in two extracts from novels.
Heywood, J., Semino, E. & Short, M. H. 2002 In: Language and Literature. 11, 1, p. 35-54, 20 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
2001
A method for annotating metaphors in corpora.
Semino, E. & Steen, G. 2001
Research output: Contribution to conference › Conference paper
Revisiting the notion of faithfulness in discourse: report/(re)presentation using a corpus approach.
Short, M., Semino, E. & Wynne, M. 2001 Poetics, linguistics and history: discourses of war and conflict. Biermann, I. & Combrink, A. (eds.). Potchefstroom, South Africa: Potchefstroom University, p. 484-509 26 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
On readings, literariness and schema theory: a reply to Jeffries.
Semino, E. 2001 In: Language and Literature. 10, 4, p. 345-355, 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Schema and script theory.
Semino, E. 2001 Routledge encyclopaedia of language teaching and learning. Byram, M. (ed.). London: Routledge, p. 525-527 3 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
2000
Language and context(s): Jane Gardam’s ‘Bilgewater’.
Short, M. H., Semino, E. & Culpeper, J. 2000 Contextualised stylistics: in honour of Peter Verdonk. Bex, T., Burke, M. & Stockwell, P. (eds.). Amsterdam: Rodopi, p. 131-151 21 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Constructing witches and spells: speech acts and activity types in early modern England.
Culpeper, J. & Semino, E. 2000 In: Journal of Historical Pragmatics. 1, 1, p. 97-116, 20 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
1999
Hypothetical words and thoughts in contemporary British narratives.
Semino, E., Short, M. H. & Wynne, M. 1999 In: Narrative. 7, 3, p. 307-334, 28 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Reading reports: discourse presentation in a corpus of narratives with special reference to news reports.
Short, M. H., Wynne, M. & Semino, E. 1999 English via various media. Diller, H. J. & Stratman, E. O. G. (eds.). Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag C, p. 39-66 28 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
1998
A corpus-based investigation of speech, thought and writing presentation in English narrative texts.
Wynne, M., Short, M. & Semino, E. 1998 Explorations in Corpus Linguistics. Renouf, A. (ed.). 23 ed. Amsterdam: Rodopi, p. 233-247 15 p. (Language and computers).
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
1997
Using a corpus to test a model of speech and thought presentation.
Semino, E., Short, M. & Culpeper, J. 1997 In: Poetics. 25, 1, p. 17-43, 27 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Language and world creation in poems and other texts.
Semino, E. 1997 London: Longman. 288 p. (Textual Explorations).
Research output: Book/Report/Proceedings › Book
1996
Metaphor and mind style in Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Semino, E. & Swindlehurst, K. 1996 In: Style. 30, 1, p. 143-166, 24 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Using a corpus for stylistics research: speech presentation.
Short, M., Semino, E. & Culpeper, J. 1996 Using Corpora in Language Research. Thomas, J. & Short, M. (eds.). Harlow: Longman, p. 110-131 22 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Politics is football: metaphor in the discourse of Silvio Berlusconi in Italy.
Semino, E. & Masci, M. 1996 In: Discourse and Society. 7, 2, p. 243-269, 27 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
1995
Stylistics.
Culpeper, J. & Semino, E. 1995 Handbook of Pragmatics. Verschueren, J., Ostman, J. O. & Blommaert, J. (eds.). Amsterdam: John Benjamins, p. 513-520 8 p.
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
Schema theory and the analysis of text worlds in poetry.
Semino, E. 1995 In: Language and Literature. 4, 2, p. 79-108, 30 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Deixis and the dynamics of poetic voice.
Semino, E. 1995 New Essays in Deixis. Green, K. (ed.). 103 ed. Amsterdam: Rodopi, p. 145-160 16 p. (Costerus, new series).
Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings › Chapter
1992
Building on Keith Green’s “Deixis and the Poetic Persona”: further reflections on deixis in poetry.
Semino, E. 1992 In: Language and Literature. 1, 2, p. 135-140, 6 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Metaphor in End of Life Care
01/09/2012 →
The primary aim of this project is to investigate the use of metaphor in the experience of end-of-life care in the UK. We will study the metaphors used by members of different stakeholder groups (pati ... Read more»Using a semantic annotation tool for research on metaphor in discourse
01/12/2005 →
The project, which has gone through several stages since late 2005, represents an investigation into the computer-assisted analysis of metaphoric patterns across discourses and genres. Our overall aim ... Read more»
Our department rated 10th in the world!
08/05/2013
The Department of Linguistics and English Language at Lancaster University has been rated as 10th in the world in the QS 2013 rankings! This is up from 49th last year and reflects our world-class stan ... Read more»Elena Semino gives plenary lecture at Lyon University
23/11/2010
On 26th November, Elena Semino is giving a plenary lecture on corpus linguistics and metaphor at the University of Lyon, as part of an event entitled: 'Journee d'etude sur la notion de corpus en lingu ... Read more»
Talk on 'Language, Mind and Autism in Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time', University of Goettingen
(Speaker) 16/11/2011 → 17/11/2011
Activity: Invited talk
Read more»Talk on 'Metaphor, creativity and reconceptualisation', University of East Anglia
(Member) 7/11/2011
Activity: Invited talk
Read more»Talk on 'Metaphor, creativity and reconceptualization in communication about illness', University of Uppsala
(Speaker) 15/3/2012
Activity: Invited talk
Read more»Workshop on 'Language, Mind and Autism in Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time', University of Uppsala
(Member) 15/3/2012
Activity: Invited talk
Read more»Lecture at 'Pragma-stylistics' Colloquium, University of Sussex
(Invited speaker) 21/5/2012
Activity: Participation in conference
Read more»Contribution to 'Broadcasting House' on BBC Radio 4
(Interviewee) 20/5/2012
Activity: Media article or participation
Read more»Lectures in Stylistics at Fuzhou University in China
(Member) 19/11/2012 → 22/11/2012
Activity: Invited talk
Read more»Talk on 'A linguistic perspective on the McGill pain questionnaire', at London's Eastman Dental Hospital
(Speaker) 23/1/2013
Activity: Invited talk
Read more»Plenary lecture at 'Cognitive Futures of the Humanities' Conference: Reading Minds that can't Mindread
(Keynote/plenary speaker) 4/4/2013
Activity: Participation in conference
Read more»