Mediation vs manipulation in terms of cognitive linguistics

Cognitive mediation and manipulation are among the most discussed in the field of knowledge transfer. However, the difference between these two terms is not obvious, which leads to an inappropriate substitution of the concepts. To our best knowledge, no one has so far studied the moral aspects of mediation as compared to manipulation. Few researchers have simultaneously addressed the issue of influencing understanding and thinking from these two perspectives. This work aims to broaden our knowledge of cognitive mediation by comparing and contrasting it with cognitive manipulation. The outcomes of this trial will have implications for refining the methodology of specialized knowledge mediation. The present study is focused on the analyses of definitions of the two terms obtained from explanatory dictionaries and academic papers in the field of cognitive linguistics. Additionally, we track the development of the terms from their etymological background to the modern use in cognitive linguistics. The results of this study reveal the key differences between cognitive mediation and manipulation. We highlight the various roles, aims, and moral principles of both processes and their participants. Finally, we have devised a flowchart of cognitive manipulation that, compared with the flowchart of cognitive mediation presented in our earlier research, will help distinguish these often-conflated processes.