The conceptual basis of grammar

We began this chapter by describing cognitive approaches to grammar as attempts to ‘complete the picture’ of semantic structure suggested by cognitive semantics. We then outlined Talmy’s theory concerning the conceptual basis of grammar. This discussion focused on Talmy’s proposals concerning the four schematic systems that comprise the conceptual structuring system, and explored how each of these is reflected in the grammatical subsystem. We saw that the three ‘perceptual’ systems – the ‘Configurational Structure System’, the ‘Attentional System’ and the ‘Perspectival System’– are argued to have consequences for the grammatical subsystem. For example, the configurational parameters of plexity, boundedness and dividedness are argued to underlie the system of grammatical number as well as the count mass noun distinction; the ‘Attentional System’ underpins the relative prominence of referents in a construction, encoded by means of the figure ground pattern and the windowing of attention pattern; and the ‘Perspectival System’ underpins the behaviour and interpretation of deictic expressions. We also introduced Talmy’s ‘Force-Dynamics System’, which is argued to arise from kinaesthetic experience and involves the transfer or resistance of energy between agonist and antagonist. Talmy’s approach thus addresses the embodied nature of conceptualisation as reflected in the grammatical subsystem. For example, Talmy argues that the ‘Force-Dynamics System’ forms the basis of a characterisation of the modal auxiliaries. In our introductory sketch of Langacker’s theory of Cognitive Grammar, we saw how this model complements Talmy’s approach in a number of ways, and how lexical classes are held to have a conceptual basis relating to basic domains like TIME and SPACE. We saw that Langacker argues for division of linguistic expressions into two major categories: nominal predications and relational pred ications.We also saw how attention is encoded in language by virtue of focal adjustments, which have consequences for the construal and coding of a conceptual representation in language. We focused in particular on the three parameters according to which focal adjustments can vary: selection, perspective and construal. Two of the most important theoretical constructs in Langacker’s theory are the notion of profile-base organisation, which relates to the parameter of selection, and trajector (TR)-landmark (LM) organisation, which relates to the parameter of perspective. We then saw how Langacker addresses the issue of force-dynamics by proposing the prototypical action chain model. Finally we re-examined the related issues of categorisation and polysemyas they relate to grammar and outlined Langacker’s network model.

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

العتبة العباسية المقدسة تختتم فعاليات حفل التكليف المركزي الثامن بمشاركة أكثر من 6 آلاف تلميذة

من الخيام إلى الفتوى.. عرض مسرحي ضمن فعاليات اليوم الثاني لحفل التكليف

ضمن فعاليات اليوم الثاني من حفل التكليف المركزي الثامن تلميذات مدارس كربلاء يرددن نشيد التكليف

عرض فيلم عن مشروع الورود الفاطمية ضمن فعاليات اليوم الثاني من حفل التكليف المركزي الثامن

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

عوامل تضعف القدرات الإدراكية لدى الإنسان

طريقة جديدة لتجديد خلايا الدماغ

دراسة بريطانية: الأطعمة النباتية عالية الجودة تقلل خطر فشل القلب

7 أطعمة يومية "تسمم" جسمك بالبلاستيك دون أن تشعر

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

اكتشاف أثري في أوريغون الأمريكية قد يعيد كتابة تاريخ البشرية

اكتشاف كائن بحري مدرع بلسان "حديدي" في بحر اليابان

نظام كوكبي "مقلوب" يحير علماء الفلك

بسبب الذكاء الاصطناعي.. هذه الوظائف "ستختفي" بعد أشهر قليلة ؟!

المزيد

مواضيع ذات صلة

Bounding

Nominal predications: nouns

Word classes: linguistic categorisation

Cognitive Grammar: word classes

Categorisation and polysemy in grammar: the network conception

Force-dynamics

Attention

The conceptual basis of word classes

Langacker theory of Cognitive Grammar

The Force-Dynamics System

The Perspectival System

The Attentional System