Langacker Ronald W. Concept, image, and symbol: the cognitive basis of grammar

Berlin – New York : Mouton de Gruyter, 1991. — 395 p. — (Cognitive Linguistics Research 1). — ISBN: 3-11-012863-2.This classic research monograph develops and illustrates the theory of linguistic structure known as Cognitive Grammar, and applies it to representative phenomena in English and other languages. Cognitive grammar views language as an integral facet of cognition and claims that grammatical structure cannot be understood or revealingly described independently of semantic considerations. It argues that grammar forms a continuum with the lexicon and is reducible to symbolic relationships (i.e. form-meaning pairings), and consequently that all valid grammatical constructs have some kind of conceptual import. The coherence and descriptive potential of cognitive grammar are exemplified by application to a broad variety of grammatical phenomena drawn from numerous languages.An unrivalled classic;
A comprehensive introduction to the field of Cognitive Grammar;
A must-have for all students of cognitive linguistics.Linguistic semantics.
Dimensions of imagery.
Grammar as image.
Grammatical organization.
Grammatical classes.
Grammatical constructions.Inside and outside in Cora.
Theoretical preliminaries.
Enclosure.
Topographical domain.
Accessibility.
Scope.
Implications.
Nouns and verbs.
Issues.
Basic concepts.
Bounding.
Interconnection.
Count vs. mass nouns.
Relations.
Processes.
Motivation.
Perfective vs. imperfective processes.
Progressives.
Abstract nouns.The English passive.
Grammar and analyzability.
Economy.
Components.
The symbolic nature of grammar.
Semantic structure.
Grammatical morphemes.
Overtness of grammatical structure.
Continuum of lexicon, morphology, and syntax.
Descriptive framework.
Linguistic organization.
Syntagmatic combination.
The passive construction.
The perfect participle.
The passive be.
By-phrases.
Related phenomena.
Abstract motion.
Basic concepts and assumptions.
The characterization of verbs.
Objective motion.
Subjective motion.
Avenues of semantic extension.
Grammatical valence.
Canonical instances.
Noncanonical instances.
Further departures from the canon.
Scope and morphological layering.
Active zones.
The phenomenon.
Analysis.
Grammatical implications.
The Yuman auxiliary.
Transitivity, case, and grammatical relations.
The conception of actions and events.
Unmarked linguistic coding.
Some basic grammatical constructs.
Selection.
Heads and tails.
Complexities.
Subjective asymmetry.
Subject and object.
Marked coding.
Lexical options.
Voice.
Setting vs. participants.
Case.
General comments.
Role archetypes.
Correlation with grammatical relations.
Ergative/absolutive systems.
The structure of events.
Ergativity.
Other case phenomena.
Causative constructions.
Complex events.
Causatives derived from intransitives.
Causatives derived from transitives.
A usage-based model.
Two conceptions of generality.
The network conception.
General applicability.
Distribution.Autonomy and agreement.
The autonomy issue.
The symbolic alternative.
Grammatical markings.
Agreement.Subjectification.
Perspective.
Grounding.
The nature of subjectification.
A spatial example.
The future sense of ‘go’.
Modals.
Possession and perfect aspect.Final remarks.
Notes.
Chapters 1-12.

Index.