Journal article
D. Gentner, Jennifer Asmuth
2019
2019
Semantic Scholar
DOI
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Cite
APA
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Gentner, D., & Asmuth, J. (2019). Metaphoric extension, relational categories, and abstraction.
Chicago/Turabian
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Gentner, D., and Jennifer Asmuth. “Metaphoric Extension, Relational Categories, and Abstraction” (2019).
MLA
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Gentner, D., and Jennifer Asmuth. Metaphoric Extension, Relational Categories, and Abstraction. 2019.
BibTeX Click to copy
@article{d2019a,
title = {Metaphoric extension, relational categories, and abstraction},
year = {2019},
author = {Gentner, D. and Asmuth, Jennifer}
}
Abstract
ABSTRACT We propose that concepts exist along a continuum of abstraction, from highly concrete to highly abstract, and we explore a critical kind of abstract category: relational abstractions. We argue that these relational categories emerge gradually from concrete concepts through a process of progressive analogical abstraction that renders their common structure more salient. This account is supported by recent findings in historical linguistics, language acquisition and neuroscience. We suggest that analogical abstraction provides a major route for the development of abstractions in language and cognition.
