The aim of this paper is to give a brief overview of the core ideas, approaches
and the main representatives of Cognitive Linguistics and in which way this
approach differs from the classical structuralistic view. The explanations will not be
exhaustive at all, but should suffice to make clear how revolutionary the ideas of
Cognitive Linguistics are and how it will hopefully influence linguistics in general in
the future.
Cognitive Linguistics developed at the beginning of the 1980ies mainly in the
United States as a completely new approach to the study of language and mind and
how these two are related. According to cognitive linguist Gilles FAUCONNIER
"perhaps for the first time a genuine science of meaning construction and its
dynamics has been launched"1. The representatives see language as one of the most
significant characteristics of cognitive activities and therefore the aim is to describe
and explain mental structures and processes which are important to the processing of
human language. According to Gilles FAUCONNIER, language is only the "tip of a
cognitive iceberg"2.
How does this view differ from the theories represented by structural
linguistics?
1 Gilles FAUCONNIER in: Theo JANSSEN & Gisela REDEKER (ed.): Cognitive Linguistics: Foundations,
Scope, and Methodology (1999: 96). Translation: "(…) wahrscheinlich erstmalig ist eine echte
Wissenschaft der Konstruktion von Bedeutungen und ihrer Dynamik in Gang gekommen (...)".
2 Gilles FAUCONNIER in: JANSSEN/ REDEKER (1999: 96). Translation: [Sprache ist nur] "die Spitze des
kognitiven Eisbergs".
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The traditional view
3. Categorization and Prototypes
3. 1. Categorization
3. 2. The Classical Approach
3. 3. Family Resemblance
3. 4. Colour Categorization
3. 5. Prototypes
3. 6. Basic Level Categories
4. Conceptual metaphors and Cognitive Models
4. 1. Conceptual metaphors
4. 2. Image schemas
5. Frames and Scripts
6. Conclusion
7. Summary
Objectives and Topics
This paper provides an overview of the core principles of Cognitive Linguistics, contrasting its revolutionary approach to language and mind with traditional structuralist views.
- Evolution and core concepts of Cognitive Linguistics
- Critique of the traditional structuralist view of language
- Theoretical advancements in categorization and prototype theory
- Cognitive mechanisms such as metaphor, image schemas, frames, and scripts
Excerpt from the Book
3. 3. Family Resemblance
So what did WITTGENSTEIN discover? He noticed that the category "game" among others did not fit in the classical model, because "games" do not in any case share common properties. WITTGENSTEIN compared different kinds of games like chess, ball games, tennis, board games etc.:
"Consider for example the proceedings that we call 'games'. (…) What is common to them all? (…) you will not see something that is common to all, but similarities, relationships, and a whole series of them at that. (…) Are they all 'amusing'? (…) Or is there always winning and losing (…)? Think of patience. (…) Look at the parts played by skill and luck; and at the difference between skill in chess and skill in tennis."
He concluded that games are related in a variety of similarities which overlap and called these varieties "family resemblances", which may link category members. The philosopher made another important point on the "game" subject, which is seen as a first glimpse of a certain idea that will be explained in the following.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the scope of Cognitive Linguistics as a modern approach to the science of meaning construction, contrasting it with structuralism.
2. The traditional view: Outlines the limitations of structuralist linguistics, specifically the autonomy of language and the arbitrariness of signs.
3. Categorization and Prototypes: Examines how humans organize thought into categories, moving from the classical approach to prototype theory and basic-level concepts.
4. Conceptual metaphors and Cognitive Models: Discusses how metaphorical mapping and image schemas structure our conceptual systems and everyday thought processes.
5. Frames and Scripts: Explains how global patterns of knowledge and idealized sequences of events provide the cognitive context for language understanding.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the necessity of integrating Cognitive Linguistics into German research to maintain alignment with international developments.
7. Summary: Recaps the key theoretical shifts and researchers who have defined the field of Cognitive Linguistics.
Keywords
Cognitive Linguistics, Categorization, Prototypes, Structuralism, Metaphor, Image Schemas, Frames, Scripts, Basic Level Categories, Meaning Construction, Conceptual Models, Cognitive Economy, Linguistic Theory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this paper?
The paper provides an overview of Cognitive Linguistics and highlights how its approach to language, mind, and meaning differs from classical structuralist theories.
Which key thematic areas are discussed?
The core themes include categorization, prototype theory, conceptual metaphors, image schemas, and the role of frames and scripts in shaping common sense knowledge.
What is the primary goal of the author?
The author aims to clarify the revolutionary impact of Cognitive Linguistics and argues for the necessity of expanding this research field within German academia.
What methodology does the study employ?
The paper uses a descriptive and analytical review of foundational literature in Cognitive Linguistics, referencing key theorists like Lakoff, Rosch, and Fauconnier.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body systematically treats the critique of structuralism, the psychological basis of categorization, and the cognitive mechanisms that underlie language structure.
What are the primary keywords characterizing this study?
Central keywords include Cognitive Linguistics, prototype theory, conceptual metaphors, frames, scripts, and basic-level categories.
How does the author define the "traditional view" in linguistics?
The author characterizes the traditional structuralist view as focusing on language as a self-contained, autonomous system where signs are arbitrarily linked to meanings, often neglecting complex cognitive processes.
What is the significance of the "restaurant script" example?
It illustrates how shared knowledge about social event sequences allows individuals to infer missing information and understand context, demonstrating the inadequacy of viewing language as purely autonomous.
- Quote paper
- Kristin Prescher (Author), 2002, Cognitive Linguistics. Worth a Professorial Position, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/17872
