1st Edition

The New Psychology of Language Cognitive and Functional Approaches To Language Structure, Volume I

Edited By Michael Tomasello Copyright 1998
    316 Pages
    by Psychology Press

    320 Pages
    by Psychology Press

    This book, which gathers in one place the theories of 10 leading cognitive and functional linguists, represents a new approach that may define the next era in the history of psychology: It promises to give psychologists a new appreciation of what this variety of linguistics can offer their study of language and communication. In addition, it provides cognitive-functional linguists new models for presenting their work to audiences outside the boundaries of traditional linguistics. Thus, it serves as an excellent text for courses in psycholinguistics, and appeal to students and researchers in cognitive science and functional linguistics.

    Contents: M. Tomasello, Introduction: A Cognitive-Functional Perspective on Language Structure. R.W. Langacker, Conceptualization, Symbolization, and Grammar. T. Givón, The Functional Approach to Grammar. W. Croft, The Structure of Events and the Structure of Language. W. Chafe, Language and the Flow of Thought. A. Wierzbicka, The Semantics of English Causative Constructions in a Universal-Typological Perspective. P.J. Hopper, Emergent Grammar. J.R. Taylor, Syntactic Constructions as Prototype Categories. A.E. Goldberg, Patterns of Experience in Patterns of Language. R.D. Van Valin, Jr., The Acquisition of WH-Questions and the Mechanisms of Language Acquisition. G. Fauconnier, Mental Spaces, Language Modalities, and Conceptual Integration.

    Biography

    Michael Tomasello

    "I found that each chapter presented readable sketches of the current thinking of some linguist....present thought-provoking semantically-based analyses of phenomena that in the past have been treated mainly syntactically.
    Journal of Linguistics

    "...this collection offers a broad sampler of some current functional approaches to the analysis of language, and in doing so it raises a number of questions that are fundamental for research on language acquisition as well as (adult) language use."
    Child Language