Cognitive Grammar

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[[[PIN]/[pin]]–[[PL]/[z]]]

(Langacker 1987, p. 82)

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Ronald Langacker

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Evolution of cognitive theory

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‘No comprehensive and unified theoretical framework’

in linguistics.(Langacker 1987, p. V)

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1976 essays and chapters about

‘Space Grammar.’

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Foundations of Cognitive Grammar

1987: Volume ITheoretical Prerequisities

1991: Volume IIDescriptive Application

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Volume I

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Archetype of grammar

Explains every language phenomenon and is accurate.

Unfortunately cannot be formulated.

(Langacker 1987, p. 56)

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‘It is useful for theoretical purposes to consider

what a grammar of this sort would look like.’

But:

(Langacker 1987, p. 56-57)10

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Hence, Cognitive Grammar.

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Grammar=

Convention=

Sharing

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Three claims:

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1. ‘Semantic structure is not universal.’(Langacker 1987, p. 2)

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2. ‘Grammar is symbolic in nature.’

(Langacker 1987, p. 2)

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3. ‘There is no meaningful distinction between

grammar and lexicon.’(Langacker 1987, p. 3)

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Meaning=

Conceptualization=

Cognitive processing(Langacker 1987, p. 5)

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Cognitive Grammar(Langacker 1987, p. 5)

Artificial intelligenceCognitive psychology18

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[ ] = Unit status

( ) = Nonunit status

MAJUSCULE = semantic

minuscule = phonological

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What is a linguistic unit?

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A linguistic unit is used and understood.

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[COFFEE] =Semantic unit

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kɒfɪ[coffee] =Phonological unit

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kɒfɪ+

= Symbolic unit

Phonological unitSemantic unit

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Convention and usage:

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‘Putting together novel expressions is something that speakers do, not

grammars.’(Langacker 1987, p. 65)

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Coding.

Target structure.

Usage event.

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Conventional units sanction

the degree of conventionality of the

target structure.(Langacker 1987, p. 66)

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Full sanction.

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‘This is a triangle.’(Langacker 1987, p. 67)

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(Langacker 1987, p. 67)31

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([[TRIANGLE]/[triangle]]→((TRIANGLE’)/(triangle’)))

Sanctioning structure Target structure

Categorizing judgment with full sanction.

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Partial sanction.

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‘Look at this pencil.’(Langacker 1987, p. 69)

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(Langacker 1987, p. 70)35

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([[PENCIL]/[pencil]]⇢((PENCIL’)/(pencil’)))

Sanctioning structure Target structure

Categorizing judgment with partial sanction.

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Semantic space and phonological space as separate areas?

That is too easy.

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(Langacker 1987, p. 80)

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Example noun: pins

composite phonological unit [pin–z] composite semantic unit [PIN–PL]

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Grammatical constructions:

(Langacker 1987, p. 83)

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Example noun: pins

symbolic units

[[PIN]/[pin]] and [[PL]/[z]]

(Langacker 1987, p. 82)

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[[[PIN]/[pin]]–[[PL]/[z]]]

(Langacker 1987, p. 82)

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[[[THING]/[...]]–[[PL]/[z]]]

→[[[PIN]/[pin]]–[[PL]/[z]]]

(Langacker 1987, p. 92)

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Idioms:

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Idioms have a literal sense and a figurative

sense.

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(Langacker 1987, p. 93)

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Volume II

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‘Vol. 2 now applies [the basic theoretical framework], often in painful detail, to a substantial range of representative grammatical constructions.‘ (Langacker 1991, p. 9)

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Generalized-phrase Structure Grammar

Montague Grammar

Lexical-functional Grammar

X-bar Syntax

Functional Grammar

Similar grammar approaches

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Sociolinguistics:

Grammar must describe the speech situation and the sociolinguistic value of

conventional units.(Langacker 1987, p. 63)

Similar grammar approaches

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Construction Grammar:

‘Claims that all syntax is built from constructions clipped together.’

‘Langacker‘s version[s] of Construction Grammar claim[s] that all syntactic

structures are form-meaning pairings.’(Jackendoff 2002, p. 179)

Similar grammar approaches

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Chomsky:

‘Direct opposition.’‘The central object of interest [...]

was syntax.’‘Governed by principles independent

of meaning.’(Kemmer 2010)

Different grammar approaches

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Ex. 1:Explain the term unit status and give an example for a nonunit expression.

Ex. 2: Write down the formula for a

full sanction, including sanctioning and target structure, of (BOOK’).

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Solution Ex. 1:

An expression has got unit status if it is used habitually and is easily understood by other speakers of the same language. p. 57

A nonunit expression is e.g. (kɒfɪ–ɪʃ). I guess it means something is similar to

coffee.

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Solution Ex. 2:

([[BOOK]/[book]]→((BOOK’)/(book’)))

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- Jackendoff, Ray: Foundations of Language. Brain, Meaning, Grammar, Evolution, New York 2002.

- Kemmer, Suzanne: About Cognitive Linguistics. Historical Background, (http://www.cogling.org/cl.shtml, last acessed on the 4th of january).

- Langacker, Ronald W.: Curriculum Vitae, (http://idiom.ucsd.edu/~rwl/rwl_cv.pdf, last acessed on the 4th of january).

- Langacker, Ronald W.: Foundations of Cognitive Grammar. Volume 1, Theoretical Prerequisites, Stanford 1987.

- Langacker, Ronald W.: Foundations of Cognitive Grammar. Volume 2, Descriptive Application, Stanford 1991.

Bibliography:

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• p. 1 http://www.simpsonstrivia.com.ar/simpsons-photos/wallpapers/homer-simpson-wallpaper-brain-1024.jpg

• p. 1 http://tristanverboven.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/grammar-i-ain’t-got-time-for-grammar/

• p. 3 http://foreign.swu.edu.cn/lcs/• p. 4- p. 7 http://www.kryptozoologie.net/wp-content/files/2010/03/HomerSapien.jpg • p. 7 private photo• p. 9 http://www.dianakohne.de/Arbeiten/Illustration/Illustration1/8Kita_Arche_Noah.jpg• p. 12 http://www.home-designing.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/fb-twitter.jpg• p. 18 http://minus.com/mkQFa5dtz#1o• p. 18 http://dicenwrite.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/auf-ein-wort-psiabwehr/• p. 22 and 24 http://openclipart.org/detail/155473/cup-of-coffee-by-gr8dan• p. 28 http://openclipart.org/image/800px/svg_to_png/11125/

raffaella_biscuso_Judge_hammer.png • p. 30 and p. 34 http://openclipart.org/image/800px/svg_to_png/1006/

johnny_automatic_pointing_hand.png• p. 34 http://openclipart.org/detail/164437/marker-by-waider

Last accessed on the 4th of january.

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