COGNITIVE-STYLISTIC AND LINGUCULTURAL NATURE OF ENGLISH LITERARY APHORISMS

Abstract

This article examines the cognitive-stylistic nature of English literary aphorisms by integrating cognitive-stylistic, linguocultural studies, and literary analysis. Although literary aphorisms have traditionally been regarded as concise expressions of philosophical wisdom, their cognitive mechanisms and conceptual organization have received comparatively less attention. Proceeding from the principles of cognitive stylistics, the article argues that literary aphorisms should be understood not merely as stylistically marked utterances but as compressed cognitive models that conceptualize reality and verbalize the author’s worldview. The study outlines the theoretical foundations of cognitive stylistics and demonstrates how foregrounding, conceptual metaphor, conceptual blending, stylistic convergence, and conceptual opposition function as expressive and cognitive mechanisms in literary aphorisms. Particular attention is paid to the interaction between linguistic form and conceptual structure, showing how stylistic devices direct readers’ attention, activate background knowledge, facilitate inferential interpretation and restructure conceptual representations. The article further explores the linguocultural dimension of literary aphorisms, arguing that they verbalize culturally significant concepts and values while preserving collective cultural experience. It is concluded that the cognitive-stylistic approach provides a comprehensive framework for explaining the semantic density and cultural significance of English literary aphorisms.