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 unied 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 I Theoretical Prerequisities 1991: Volume II Descriptive 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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But:

It is useful for theoretical purposes to consider what a grammar of this sort would look like.
(Langacker 1987, p. 56-57)
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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)

Cognitive psychology
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Articial intelligence

[ ] = 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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[coffee] =
Phonological unit

kf

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+
Semantic unit

kf
Phonological unit

= Symbolic 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)

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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)

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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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Grammatical constructions:

Example noun: pins composite phonological unit [pinz] composite semantic unit [PINPL]

(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 gurative 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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Similar grammar approaches

Generalized-phrase Structure Grammar Montague Grammar Lexical-functional Grammar X-bar Syntax Functional Grammar
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Similar grammar approaches

Sociolinguistics: Grammar must describe the speech situation and the sociolinguistic value of conventional units.
(Langacker 1987, p. 63)
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Similar grammar approaches

Construction Grammar: Claims that all syntax is built from constructions clipped together. Langackers version[s] of Construction Grammar claim[s] that all syntactic structures are form-meaning pairings.
(Jackendoff 2002, p. 179)
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Different grammar approaches

Chomsky: Direct opposition. The central object of interest [...] was syntax. Governed by principles independent of meaning.
(Kemmer 2010)
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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. (kf). I guess it means something is similar to coffee.
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Solution Ex. 2: ([[BOOK]/[book]]((BOOK)/(book)))

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Bibliography:
- 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.
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Picture sources:
p. 1 http://www.simpsonstrivia.com.ar/simpsons-photos/wallpapers/homer-simpsonwallpaper-brain-1024.jpg p. 1 http://tristanverboven.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/grammar-i-aint-got-time-forgrammar/ p. 3 http://foreign.swu.edu.cn/lcs/ p. 4- p. 7 http://www.kryptozoologie.net/wp-content/les/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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