Cognitive Grammar: A Basic Introduction / Edition 1

by Ronald W. Langacker

Overview

This book fills a long standing need for a basic introduction to Cognitive Grammar that is current, authoritative, comprehensive, and approachable. It presents a synthesis that draws together and refines the descriptive and theoretical notions developed in this framework over the course of three decades. In a unified manner, it accommodates both the conceptual and the social-interactive basis of linguistic structure, as well as the need for both functional explanation and explicit structural description. Starting with the fundamentals, essential aspects of the theory are systematically laid out with concrete illustrations and careful discussion of their rationale. Among the topics surveyed are conceptual semantics, grammatical classes, grammatical constructions, the lexicon-grammar continuum characterized as assemblies of symbolic structures (form-meaning pairings), and the usage-based account of productivity, restrictions, and well-formedness. The theory's central claim - that grammar is inherently meaningful - is thereby shown to be viable. The framework is further elucidated through application to nominal structure, clause structure, and complex sentences. These are examined in broad perspective, with exemplification from English and numerous other languages. In line with the theory's general principles, they are discussed not only in terms of their structural characterization, but also their conceptual value and functional motivation. Other matters explored include discourse, the temporal dimension of language structure, and what grammar reveals about cognitive processes and the construction of our mental world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195331967
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/04/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	584
Product dimensions:	9.12(w) x 6.22(h) x 1.19(d)

About the Author

Ronald W. Langacker retired after 37 years as Professor of Linguistics at the University of California, San Diego. He was originally trained in generative linguistics, and worked for a decade on the Uto-Aztecan family of Native American languages. Since 1976 he has been developing the theory of Cognitive Grammar (a radical alternative to generative theory) as part of the broader tradition of cognitive linguistics.

Table of Contents

Part I PRELIMINARIES1. Orientation2. Conceptual Semantics3. ConstrualPart II FUNDAMENTALS4. Grammatical Classes5. Major Subclasses6. Constructions: General Characterization7. Constructions: Descriptive Factors8. Rules and RestrictionsPart III STRUCTURES9. Grounding10. Nominal Structure11. Clause Structure12. Complex SentencesPart IV FRONTIERS13. Discourse14. Engaging the WorldReferences