Linguistic aspects of verbal description of pain
https://doi.org/10.26907/2541-7738.2025.5-6.155-167
Abstract
Verbal description of pain sensations constitutes an important task of linguistics, which is associated with the broader question of how the subjective experience is rendered through language. In this article, two major areas of linguistic studies on pain are examined. The first investigates the semantic core of the concept of pain by analyzing the morphological and syntactic characteristics of lexical units. The second is interested in the full spectrum of linguistic means that are used to recall negative experiences triggered by pain. The findings demonstrate that pain is often expressed indirectly. The main metaphorical models of pain verbalization are discussed, with the principles outlined for classifying the most common pain descriptors into different semantic domains. The results highlight the systematic character of linguistic representations of pain and emphasize the substantial value of linguistic studies and databases related to pain descriptions, ensuring more accurate diagnosis and better communication with patients, especially those with cognitive disorders.
Supporting agencies: This study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 25-28-01421, https://rscf.ru/project/25-28-01421/).
About the Author
Yu. V. Laykova
Kazan Federal University
Россия
Россия
Yulia V. Laykova, Cand. Sci. (Philology), Associate Professor of Department of Applied and Experimental Linguistics, Senior Researcher of Neurocognitive Research Laboratory
Kazan, Russia
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For citations:
Laykova Yu.V. Linguistic aspects of verbal description of pain. Kazan Journal of Historical, Linguistic, and Legal Research. 2025;167(5-6):155-167. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26907/2541-7738.2025.5-6.155-167
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