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Ronald W. Langacker created an approach to linguistics called Cognitive Grammar, which is essentially a system of symbols that can be used to organize and analyze how semantics and phonology interact with each other in human language. Cognitive Grammar lays the groundwork for cognitive linguistics, which has become a major sub-field over the past 30 years. Langacker's 2008 Oup book <em>Cognitive Grammar is the authoritative introduction to Cg. But for an introduction it's rather long-584 pages, divided into four sections, two of which are truly introductory and two of which offer a more detailed methodology for researchers.This abridged version of <em>Cognitive Grammar makes the two introductory sections available for course adoption at a reduced price. It will reinvigorate this copyright by tailoring it to the course market that has become its primary audience, and by positioning Langacker's authoritative work as an accessible, attractive cornerstone of cognitive linguistics as the field continues to evolve.
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Essentials of Cognitive Grammar This page intentionally left blank Essentials of Cognitive Grammar Ronald W. Langacker 1 1 Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dar es Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto With offices in Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan Poland Portugal Singapore South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America © Oxford University Press 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, by license, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reproduction rights organization. Inquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above You must not circulate this work in any other form and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Langacker, Ronald W. Essentials of cognitive grammar / Ronald W. Langacker. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-19-993735-6 (alk. paper) 1. Cognitive grammar. I. Title. P165.L355 2013 415--dc23 2012020305 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper INTRODUCTION Cognitive Grammar is a theoretical framework for describing language structure as a product of cognition and social interaction. It is central to the broad and growing movement known as cognitive linguistics, which in turn is part of the “functionalist” tradition. The essential notion is that grammar is meaningful (not an independent formal system) and can only be revealingly characterized in relation to its conceptual import and communicative function. When first introduced over three decades ago, Cognitive Grammar represented a fundamental challenge to the reigning theoretical orthodoxy. To some extent this is still the case, but the field has evolved to the point that many basic ideas are now either widely accepted or at least deemed worthy of consideration. The linguistic scene today is crowded with theories, methods, and approaches no one of which has any rea