The work of cognitive linguists falls under the general category of functional approaches to linguistic structure. Theories of grammar in Cognitive Linguistics emphasize the centrality of meaning and communicative context, and the role of cognitive processes such as memory and attention. This course will elucidate the major themes and core concepts of these theories, including Langacker’s Cognitive Grammar; categorization and prototype theory; frame semantics; Construction Grammar; metaphor and metonymy; and mental spaces and blending. Of particular emphasis will be the application of these theories to analyze sentences in terms of both form and meaning. Implications for linguistic typology, first and second language acquisition, computational linguistics, language pedagogy, and discourse and ideology will also be explored, depending on the particular interests represented in students taking the class.
Cognitive Grammar (CogGram)
LING-485 | Spring 2018 @ Georgetown University
Instructors: Lourdes Ortega,
Nathan Schneider ~
TAs: Brandon Tullock, Sakol Suethanapornkul
Lectures: TR 2:00-3:15, White-Gravenor 202