Narrative Sense of Scents: Linguistic Expression of the Olfactory Perception

Abstract

To convey perceptual experiences, cognitive agents employ various verbal strategies. This paper’s primary focus is on how olfactory perceptions are expressed when describing perfumes. Examining online communities that review perfumes reveals an intriguing approach to understanding scent perception. In addition to the technical jargon commonly employed, which follows a structured format of notes at three scent layers, one occasionally encounters narrations that aim to capture the essence of the perfume’s perceptual experience. It is argued that the narrativization of scent perception exemplifies a cognitive inclination to contextualize sensory inputs within a conceptual framework, facilitating the comprehension of non-linguistic experiences. This paper suggests a shift from a non-narrative mode of consciousness to a narrative mode as a means to elucidate the process of making sense of the seemingly nonsensical.

Presenters

Hamid Asiayee
Lecturer, Languages, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Niedersachsen, Germany

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

Communications and Linguistic Studies

KEYWORDS

Narrative Mode of Consciousness, Perceptual Experiences, Sense-Making, Olfactory Perception