Cognitive linguistics 72711 208577273 2008-04-27T18:44:58Z Anomalocaris 299039 dashes {{linguistics}}In [[linguistics]] and [[cognitive science]], '''cognitive linguistics''' (CL) refers to the school of linguistics that understands language ''creation, learning, and usage'' as best explained by reference to human [[cognition]] in general. It is characterized by adherence to three central positions. First, it denies that there is an ''autonomous linguistic faculty'' in the mind; second, it understands grammar in terms of ''conceptualization''; and third, it claims that knowledge of language arises out of ''language use''. <ref>{{cite book|title=Cognitive Linguistics|author=Croft, William and D. Alan Cruse|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|date=2004|page=1}}</ref> Cognitive linguists deny that the [[mind]] has any module for language-acquisition that is unique and autonomous. This stands in contrast to the work done in the field of [[generative grammar]]. Although cognitive linguists do not necessarily deny that part of the human linguistic ability is innate, they deny that it is ''separate'' from the rest of cognition. Thus, they argue that knowledge of linguistic phenomena — i.e., phonemes, morphemes, and syntax — is essentially [[concept|conceptual]] in nature. Moreover, they argue that the storage and retrieval of linguistic data is not significantly different from the storage and retrieval of other knowledge, and use of language in understanding employs similar cognitive abilities as used in other non-linguistic tasks. Departing from the tradition of [[truth-conditional semantics]], cognitive linguists view meaning in terms of conceptualization. Instead of viewing meaning in terms of models of the world, they view it in terms of mental spaces. Finally, cognitive linguistics argues that language is both [[embodied philosophy|embodied]] and [[situated]] in a specific [[bioregion|environment]]. This can be considered a moderate offshoot of the [[Sapir-Whorf hypothesis]], in that language and cognition mutually influence one another, and are both embedded in the experiences and environments of its users. == Areas of study == Cognitive linguistics is divided into three main areas of study: * [[Cognitive semantics]], dealing mainly with [[lexical semantics]] * [[Cognitive approaches to grammar]], dealing mainly with syntax, morphology and other traditionally more grammar-oriented areas. * Cognitive [[phonology]]. Aspects of cognition that are of interest to cognitive linguists include: * [[Construction grammar]] and [[cognitive grammar]]. * [[Conceptual metaphor]] and [[conceptual blending]]. * [[Image schema|Image schemas]] and [[Force Dynamics|force dynamics]]. * [[Concept]]ual [[organization]]: [[Categorization]], [[Metonymy]], [[Frame semantics]], and [[Iconicity]]. * [[Construal]] and [[Subjectivity]]. * [[Gesture]] and [[sign language]]. * [[Linguistic relativism]]. * [[Cognitive neuroscience]]. Related work that interfaces with many of the above themes: * Computational models of metaphor and language acquisition. * [[Psycholinguistics]] research. * [[Conceptual semantics]], pursued by generative linguist [[Ray Jackendoff]] is related because of its active ''psychological realism'' and the incorporation of prototype structure and images. Cognitive linguistics, more than generative linguistics, seeks to mesh together these findings into a coherent whole. A further complication arises because the terminology of cognitive linguistics is not entirely stable, both because it is a relatively new field and because it interfaces with a number of other disciplines. Insights and developments from cognitive linguistics are becoming accepted ways of analysing literary texts, too. [[Cognitive Poetics]], as it has become known, has become an important part of modern stylistics. The best summary of the discipline as it is currently stands is Peter Stockwell's ''Cognitive Poetics''.<ref> Stockwell, Peter (2002). ''Cognitive poetics: An Introduction''. London and New York: Routledge.</ref> ==See also== *[[Cognitive science]] *[[Embodied philosophy]] *[[List of cognitive scientists]] ==References== <references /> * Evans, Vyvyan & Melanie Green (2006). ''Cognitive Linguistics: An Introduction''. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.<p> * Evans, Vyvyan (2007). ''A Glossary of Cognitive Linguistics''. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ==Further reading== * Evans, Vyvyan; Benjamin Bergen & Joerg Zinken (2007). ''The Cognitive Linguistics Reader''. London: Equinox. * Evans, Vyvyan, Benjamin K. Bergen and Jörg Zinken. [http://www.vyvevans.net/CLoverview.pdf The Cognitive Linguistics Enterprise: An Overview]. In Vyvyan Evans, Benjamin K. Bergen and Jörg Zinken (Eds). ''The Cognitive Linguistics Reader''. Equinox Publishing Co. * Geeraerts, D. & H. Cuyckens, eds. (2007). The Oxford Handbook of Cognitive Linguistics. New York: Oxford University Press. * Geeraerts, D., ed. (2006). Cognitive Linguistics: Basic Readings. Berlin / New York: Mouton de Gruyter. * Kristiansen et al., eds. (2006). Cognitive Linguistics: Current Applications and Future Perspectives. Berlin / New York: Mouton de Gruyter. * Rohrer, T. [http://zakros.ucsd.edu/~trohrer/handbookch1rohrerfinaldraft.pdf Embodiment and Experientialism in Cognitive Linguistics]. In the Handbook of Cognitive Linguistics, Dirk Geeraerts and Herbert Cuyckens, eds., Oxford University Press, forthcoming. * [[Gilles Fauconnier]] has written a brief, manifesto-like introduction to Cognitive linguistics, which compares it to mainstream, Chomsky-inspired linguistics. See ''Introduction to Methods and Generalizations''. In T. Janssen and G. Redeker (Eds). '''Scope and Foundations of Cognitive Linguistics'''. The Hague: Mouton De Gruyter. Cognitive Linguistics Research Series. ([http://cogweb.ucla.edu/Abstracts/Fauconnier_99.html on-line version]) * Grady, Oakley, and Coulson (1999). "Blending and Metaphor". In ''Metaphor in cognitive linguistics'', Steen and Gibbs (eds.). Philadelphia: John Benjamins. ([http://cogweb.ucla.edu/CogSci/Grady_99.html online version]) * Schmid, H. J. et al. (1996). An Introduction to Cognitive Linguistics. New York, Longman. * Fauconnier, G. (1997). Mappings in Thought and Language. * Taylor, J. R. (2002). Cognitive Grammar. Oxford, Oxford University Press. * Croft, W. & D.A. Cruse (2004) Cognitive Linguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. * Tomasello, M. (2003). Constructing a Language. A Usage-Based Theory of Language Acquisition. Harvard University Press. * Fauconnier, Gilles and Mark Turner (2003). [http://markturner.org/wwt.html The Way We Think]. New York: Basic Books. ==External links== * [http://www.cogling.org International Cognitive Linguistics Association] * [http://www.cogling.org.uk UK Cognitive Linguistics Association] * [http://www.vyvevans.net Annotated Cognitive Linguistics Reading List] (Vyv Evans) * [http://www.chrisdb.me.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=cognitive_linguistics JohnQPublik's Introduction to Cognitive Linguistics] is an overview of the field, comparing it to traditional Chomskian linguistics. * [http://markturner.org/coglingSpring07.html Introduction to Cognitive Linguistics] (Mark Turner). * The [http://www.gestalttheory.net/linguistics/ Gestalt Theory and Linguistics Page] deals with the relationship between Gestalt theory and cognitive linguistics. * The [http://zakros.ucsd.edu/~trohrer/metaphor/metaphor.htm Center for the Cognitive Science of Metaphor Online] is a collection of numerous formative articles in the fields of conceptual metaphor and conceptual integration. * [http://www.vyvevans.net/CLBangor.htm Study Cognitive Linguistics] (University of Wales, Bangor) [[Category:Linguistics]] [[Category:Cognitive science|Linguistics]] [[br:Yezhoniezh kognitivel]] [[ca:Lingüística cognitiva]] [[de:Kognitive Linguistik]] [[et:Kognitiivne lingvistika]] [[es:Lingüística cognitiva]] [[fr:Linguistique cognitive]] [[gl:Lingüística cognitiva]] [[it:Linguistica cognitiva]] [[ja:認知言語学]] [[pl:Lingwistyka kognitywna]] [[pt:Lingüística cognitiva]] [[ru:Когнитивная лингвистика]] [[ta:அறிதிற மொழியியல்]] [[zh:認知語言學]]