Cognitive linguistics

Bodo Winter*, Florent Perek

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Cognitive linguistics is an interdisciplinary branch of linguistics that studies the intersection of language structure, language use, and the mind. Cognitive linguistics is characterized by a number of central themes. One theme is embodied cognition, the idea that features of cognition and language are shaped by our brains, bodies, and interactions with the physical environment. Another central theme is the idea that there is no strict division between syntax and semantics, with ‘constructions’ (form-meaning pairings) being the central unit of a cognitive linguistic theories of grammar. A final theme that connects cognitive linguistics with functional linguistics is that language structure is emergent, resulting from language use. Methodologically, cognitive linguistics is characterized by a mixture of corpus linguistics, experimental methods inspired by psycholinguistics and cognitive science, and analysis of multimodal behaviours, including co-speech gestures. In this chapter, we provide an introduction to the theoretical and methodological landscape of cognitive linguistics, including cognitive semantics, conceptual metaphor theory, and construction grammar.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Routledge Handbook of Applied Linguistics
Subtitle of host publicationVolume One
EditorsLi Wei, Zhu Hua, James Simpson
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherRoutledge
Chapter23
Pages309-321
Number of pages13
Edition2nd
ISBN (Electronic)9781003082644
ISBN (Print)9780367536275, 9780367536268
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Aug 2023

Publication series

NameRoutledge handbooks in applied linguistics
PublisherRoutledge

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