34.2531, Review: The Many Faces of Creativity

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-34-2531. Mon Aug 21 2023. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 34.2531, Review: The Many Faces of Creativity

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Date: 18-Jun-2023
From: Polina Zorina [zorina at uni-bremen.de]
Subject: Congnitive Science: Turner, Littlemore (2023)


Book announced at https://linguistlist.org/issues/34.608

AUTHOR: Sarah Turner
AUTHOR: Jeannette Littlemore
TITLE: The Many Faces of Creativity
SUBTITLE: Exploring Synaesthesia through a Metaphorical Lens
PUBLISHER: Cambridge University Press
YEAR: 2023

REVIEWER: Polina Zorina

SUMMARY
''Synaesthesia, Metaphor, and Creativity: Exploring Synaesthesia
through a Metaphorical Lens'' is a groundbreaking and extensive
exploration of the intricate relationship between synaesthesia,
metaphor, and creativity. Drawing from various disciplines including
neuroscience, linguistics, psychology, and literature, the book offers
a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of
synaesthesia and its profound implications for metaphorical thinking
and creative expression.
The book begins by introducing the concept of synaesthesia and its
fascinating characteristics. It explains how synaesthesia involves the
blending or crossing of sensory experiences, where individuals
perceive one sense in conjunction with another. This unique perceptual
phenomenon challenges traditional notions of sensory perception and
opens up a world of heightened sensory experiences and
interconnectedness.
Sarah Turner and Jeannette Littlemore delve into the underlying
mechanisms of synaesthesia, examining its neural basis and the
enhanced connectivity observed in the brains of synaesthetes. They
highlight the role of cross-activation between different brain
regions, where sensory areas become interconnected, leading to the
synaesthetic experience. This neuroscientific exploration provides a
solid foundation for understanding the cognitive processes involved in
synaesthesia and its potential implications for creative thinking.
One of the key insights of the book is the parallel between
synaesthetic associations and metaphorical mappings. The authors
highlight the similarities between the two, revealing that both
synaesthesia and metaphorical thinking involve the formation of
connections between seemingly unrelated concepts or sensory
experiences. This intriguing link sheds light on the potential role of
synaesthesia in enhancing metaphorical thinking and creative
expression. It suggests that synaesthetes, with their natural
propensity for forging unconventional connections, may possess a
unique advantage when it comes to generating novel and imaginative
ideas.
What is more, Sarah Turner and Jeannette Littlemore provide compelling
evidence for the creative potential of synaesthetes by examining their
writing practices. They analyze a diverse range of texts and writings
produced by synaesthetes, unraveling the intricate metaphorical
mappings and rich sensory descriptions embedded within their work.
These creative expressions often draw upon the synaesthetes' embodied
primary metaphorical connections, resulting in unique and innovative
linguistic metaphors. The book highlights the creativity and
inventiveness that can arise from synaesthetic experiences and
underscores the role of synaesthesia as a wellspring for metaphorical
thinking.
Additionally, the authors shed light on the emotional and empathetic
dimensions of synaesthetic experiences. Synaesthetes are shown to
exhibit heightened emotional responses to sensory stimuli,
transcending the boundaries of conventional perception. These
emotional intensities are accompanied by cognitive effects, physical
sensations, and the use of vivid and exaggerated language. By
exploring the emotional and affective aspects of synaesthesia, the
book deepens our understanding of how synaesthetic experiences can
shape and enrich the creative process.
The book presents a methodologically innovative approach by combining
qualitative and quantitative analyses of synaesthetes' writings.
Through linguistic analysis, the authors uncover the underlying
structures and patterns in synaesthetes' metaphorical expressions,
providing empirical evidence for the creative potential of
synaesthesia. They also employ cognitive and psychological measures to
further elucidate the cognitive processes and emotional responses
associated with synaesthetic experiences. This interdisciplinary
approach strengthens the book's findings and offers a comprehensive
understanding of the complex interplay between synaesthesia, metaphor,
and creativity.
Furthermore, ''Synaesthesia, Metaphor, and Creativity'' explores the
ethical and philosophical implications of synaesthetic experiences.
Synaesthetes often ascribe moral judgments and subjective value to
sensory stimuli, blurring the boundaries between the subjective and
the objective. This moral dimension adds another layer of complexity
to the understanding of synaesthesia and highlights the profound
impact it can have on one's perception and interpretation of the
world.

EVALUATION
''Synaesthesia, Metaphor, and Creativity: Exploring Synaesthesia
through a Metaphorical Lens'' is an extraordinary and trailblazing
book that offers a comprehensive and in-depth investigation into the
intricate relationship between synaesthesia, metaphor, and creativity.
With meticulous research, thought-provoking insights, and compelling
analysis, this book pushes the boundaries of our understanding of
language, cognition, and the human experience.
The book is well-structured and easy to comprehend, since the authors
provide explanations for every term they use. At its core, this book
explores the parallelisms between synaesthetic associations and
metaphorical mappings. The authors skillfully highlight the shared
characteristics of both phenomena, emphasizing their embodiment,
pre-linguistic nature, and automaticity. By establishing these
foundational connections, they pave the way for a deeper exploration
of the interplay between synaesthesia and metaphor, ultimately
uncovering the profound impact these connections have on the creative
process.
One of the book's significant contributions lies in its examination of
the enhanced connectivity within the brains of synaesthetes. This
heightened connectivity not only facilitates the formation of
connections between seemingly unrelated ideas but also serves as a
driving force behind creativity and metaphorical thinking. The authors
demonstrate that synaesthetes possess a predisposition to forge
innovative and unconventional metaphors, expanding the boundaries of
language and perception.
What is more, the book extensively analyzes the writings of
synaesthetes, unraveling their extraordinary ability to produce
creative metaphorical mappings. Drawing upon their primary
metaphorical connections rooted in embodied experiences, synaesthetes
demonstrate a remarkable capacity to generate vivid and evocative
metaphors that transcend traditional linguistic boundaries. These
metaphors often act as a bridge between sensory experiences, enabling
synaesthetes to convey their rich and multi-dimensional perceptions to
others.
Moreover, the book delves into the emotional and empathic dimensions
of synaesthesia and creativity. Turner and Littlemore shed light on
the synaesthetes' intense emotional reactions, which frequently
manifest themselves as strong, sometimes extreme, responses
accompanied by physical or cognitive effects. These emotional
responses reflect a deep engagement with the sensory and emotional
prompts, driving synaesthetes to convey their experiences with fervor
and authenticity. Additionally, synaesthetes exhibit a heightened
sense of personal identification with the subjects under discussion,
often adopting moral viewpoints and expressing firm judgments on what
''ought'' and ''ought not'' to be. This unique cluster of features
contributes to synaesthetes' propensity for producing cross-sensory
and highly creative metaphorical expressions.
Methodologically, the book stands out for its comprehensive approach,
combining qualitative and quantitative analyses of actual writings by
synaesthetes. By examining the linguistic evidence, the authors
provide compelling support for their claims. The findings align with
previous studies, validating synaesthetes' inclination to personify
stimuli and empathize with them. Furthermore, the book expands upon
prior research by revealing synaesthetes' tendency to attach moral
judgments directly to sensory experiences, regardless of cross-sensory
activation. These findings deepen our understanding of the complexity
and nuances of synaesthetic experiences, fostering a more nuanced
appreciation of the relationship between synaesthesia, metaphor, and
creativity.
A notable contribution of the book is the identification of three
response categories previously unexplored in the literature on
synaesthesia. These categories include cognitive effects, physical
effects, and hyperbole. Synaesthetes demonstrate a significantly
higher likelihood of producing these types of responses compared to
non-synaesthetes. This highlights the richness and depth of
synaesthetes' experiences and their ability to articulate them through
a wide range of interconnected response types. Moreover, this tendency
towards diverse responses suggests an intensity in their experiences
and a strong desire to communicate their vivid perceptions
effectively.
In conclusion, ''Synaesthesia, Metaphor, and Creativity: Exploring
Synaesthesia through a Metaphorical Lens'' is an exceptional and
pioneering work that delves into the fascinating world of synaesthesia
and its relationship with metaphor and creativity. Through its
interdisciplinary approach, comprehensive research, and compelling
case studies, the book provides a thorough examination of the
cognitive, linguistic, emotional, and philosophical aspects of
synaesthesia. It is a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and
anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the
complexities and implications of synaesthetic experiences in the realm
of creativity and human cognition.
''Synaesthesia, Metaphor, and Creativity: Exploring Synaesthesia
through a Metaphorical Lens'' is an exceptional and groundbreaking
contribution to the field. With its rigorous research, insightful
analysis, and thought-provoking findings, this book transcends
disciplinary boundaries, offering valuable insights to researchers,
scholars, and individuals interested in the captivating realms of
synaesthesia, metaphor, and creativity. By unraveling the mysteries of
the synaesthetic experience and its profound connection to
metaphorical thinking, this book expands our understanding of human
cognition and the limitless possibilities of language and creativity.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Polina Zorina is a MA student at the University of Bremen, Germany.
Her interests include multilingualism, English and American
literature, post-colonial literature, Shakespeare, English theater,
and translation. She is currently writing a Master thesis on
“Contemporary Filmic Adaptations of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the
Shrew”.


RESOURCES
Sarah Turner, Jeannette Littlemore. 2023. The many faces of
creativity: Exploring Synaesthesia through a Metaphorical Lens. (1
ed.) (Elements in Cognitive Linguistics). Cambridge University Press.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Polina Zorina is a MA student at the University of Bremen, Germany.
Her interests include multilingualism, English and American
literature, post-colonial literature, Shakespeare, English theatre,
translation. She is currently writing a Master thesis on “Contemporary
Filmic Adaptations of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew”.



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