Composition in cognitive grammar: its foundations, principles, concepts, and applications in understanding language and the human mind

Abstract

Cognitive Grammar is a linguistic theory developed by linguist Ronald Langacker in the 1970s. This theory differs from traditional grammatical theories in that it does not separate grammatical rules from meaning, but rather considers grammatical rules to be semantic rules. In other words, cognitive grammar views language not merely as a set of abstract symbols and formal rules, but as a system based on human experience and cognitive processes. Cognitive grammar theory is based on a set of key assumptions:

   Language is a reflection of human cognitive abilities. Our understanding of the world, our personal experience, and our ways of thinking directly influence how we form and use language. Grammar is not separate from semantics, but rather an integral part of it. Langacker considers the grammatical structure of a sentence to be a means of organizing and communicating concepts. Vocabulary and grammatical structures are viewed as "cognitive models," mental structures used to organize knowledge. Metaphor and alliteration also play a pivotal role in cognitive grammar. These phenomena are not merely rhetorical devices, but rather fundamental cognitive processes used to expand the meaning of words and structures. Language does not describe reality neutrally, but rather presents it through a particular perspective or image. Each word or expression directs the recipient's attention to a particular aspect of the concept. According to cognitive grammar, language consists of three basic categories of entities:

  Symbols are binary units that combine sound or written form and meaning. Words are examples of symbols.

   Grammars are also symbols, but they are more abstract and describe the patterns by which linguistic units interact with each other.

  Constructional schemas are abstract grammatical patterns that can be populated with specific words to form sentences. This approach helps understand language as an integral part of human cognition and places great importance on meaning and context in grammatical analysis.