Time Modelling

This thesis overviews conventional conceptual models of  TIME, as described by cognitive linguistics, as well as the novel extensions of conventional models of TIME found in science fiction. The first chapter presents an overview of conceptual metaphor theory and a discussion of conventional metaphorical models of  TIME,  such as the MOVING TIME  and MOVING OBSERVER metaphors. Chapter two provides an outline of conceptual blending theory, and presents a conceptual blending account of the structure of conventional models of TIME. The third chapter contains a discussion of the role of episodic memory, mental time travel, and conventional models of LOCATION and CHANGE OF LOCATION in the conceptualization of the MOVEMENT IN TIME,  the analysis of novel scenarios of MOVEMENT IN TIME in science fiction, in relation to the model of  NATURAL LOCATIONS of the  SELF that the particular scenario activates, the discussion of the possible clashes between the frames of MOVEMENT IN TIME and MOVEMENT IN SPACE in time-travel science fiction, and  a survey of several extensions of conventional models of CAUSATION, as related to the novel extensions of conventional models of  TIME  in science fiction. The analyses employ theoretical models provided by cognitive linguistics, notably conceptual blending theory and conceptual metaphor theory. The source texts discussed in the third chapter include science fiction stories by Terry Carr, L. Sprague de Camp, Henry Kuttner and James Tiptree Jr., as well as the novel The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.

The use of ontologies enables semantically enriched access to a variety of digital resources. Historical domains impose a number of challenges to creating ontologies, e.g.
modeling temporal relations, handling subjectivity, and dealing with vagueness. This research develops a case study in the History of Science that illustrates how to conceptualise and reason about a historical domain, and suggests an approach to modeling time and temporal relations. Based on existing methodologies for ontology construction, a methodology for conceptualising (a part of) the History of Science domain has been derived taking into account that the author has acted as both a domain expert and a knowledge engineer. Following the methodology, main concepts and relations in the History of
Science have been identified. Special attention is paid at modeling temporal concepts and relations. A framework for conceptualising and reasoning about the History of Science
is presented, combining Davidson’s theory of events to represent temporal categories and Allen’s interval logic to reason about temporal relations.