Language is one of our most articulated means of expressing ideas and thoughts. This introduction to language and linguistics as the science of language will mainly look at language from the perspective of"expressing ideas and thoughts". This approach to the study of language is known as the cognitive perspective. The cognitive perspective also holds that language is part of a cognitive system which comprises perception, emotions, categorization,abstraction processes, and reasoning. All these cognitive abilities interact with language and are influenced by language. Thus the study of language, in a sense,becomes the study of the way we express and exchange ideas and thoughts.

Co qnitiue Exploration of Lanquaqe and Linguistics is designed as a comprehensive introductory text for first and second-year university students of language and linguistics. It provides a chapter on each of the more established areas in linguistics such as lexicology, morphology, syntax, phonetics and phonology,historical linguistics, and language typology and on some ofthe newer areas such as cross-cultural semantics, pragmatics, text linguistics and contrastive linguistics.

In each of these areas language is explored as part of a cognitive system comprising perception, emotion, categorisation, abstraction processes, and reasoning. All these cognitive abilities may interact with language and be influenced by language. Thus the study oflanguage in a sense becomes the study of-the way we express and exchange ideas and thoughts.

This Second Revised Edition is corrected, updated and expanded.

Cognitive Exploration of Language and Linguistics is clearly presented and organized after having been tested in several courses in various countries.Includes exercises (solutions to be found on the Internet).

Preface

CHAPTER 1

The cognitive basis of language: Language and thought

1.0 Overview 1

1.1 Introduction: Sign systems 1

1.2 Structuring principles in language 5

1.3 Linguistic and conceptual categories 13

1.4 Summary 2o

1.5 Further reading 21

Assignments 22

CHAPTER 2

What's in a word? Lexicology

2.0 Overview 25

2.1 Introduction: Words, meanings and concepts 25

2.2 Fromwords to meanings: Semasiology 28

2.3 From concepts towords: Onomasiology 36

2.4 Conclusion: Interplay between semasiology and onomasiology

2.5 Summary 44

2.6 Further reading 45

Assignments 46

CHAPTER 3

Meaningful building blocks: Morphology

3.o Overview 49

3.1 Introduction 50

3.2 Compounding 54

3.3 Derivation 59

3.4 Other word-formation processes 64

3.5 Inflection and function words 66

3.6 Conclusion: Morphology, lexicology and syntax 69

3.7 Summary 7o

3.8 Further reading 72

Assignments 72

CHAPTER 4

Putting concepts together: Syntax

4.0 Overview 75

4.1 Introduction: Syntax and grammar 75

4.2 Event schemas and participant roles 77

4.3 Hierarchical and linear structure of the sentence 86

4.4 The grounding elements of a sentence 91

4.5 Summary 96

4.6 Further reading 98

Assignments 98

CHAPTER 5

The sounds of language: Phonetics and phonology

5.0 Overview lol

5.1 Introduction: Phonetics and phonology lOa

5.2 Production of speech sounds lo3

5-3 Consonants lo6

5.4 Vowels lO8

5-5 Phonemes and allophones; phonemic transcription 113

5.6 Beyond the phoneme 116

5.7 Sounds in context 118

5.8 Summary 122

5.9 Further reading 124

Assignments 124

CHAPTER 6

Language, culture and meaning: Cross-cultural semantics

6.o Overview 127

6.1 Introduction: Linguistic relativity and universalism 127

6.2 Culture-specific words 134

6.3 Culture-specific grammar 137

6.4 Cultural scripts 14o

6.5 Conclusion: Language, culture and thought 143

6.6 Summary 144

6.7 Further reading 146

Assignments 146

CHAPTER 7

Doing things with words: Pragmatics

7.o Overview 149

7.1 Introduction: What is pragmatics? 15o

7.2 Constitutive speech acts and felicity conditions 155

7.3 Informative speech acts and cooperative interaction 159

7.4 Obligative speech acts and polite interaction 166

7.5 Conclusion: Interplay between sentence structure

 and types of speech act 171

7.6 Summary 173

7.7 Further reading 174

Assignments 174

CHAPTER 8

Structuring texts: Text linguistics

8.o Overview 179

8.1 Communication, text, and text linguistics 18o

8.2 Text representation 181

8.3 Coherence vs. cohesion 184

8.4 Referential coherence 186

8.5 Relational coherence 189

8.6 Survey of coherence relations 195

8.7 Summary 197

8.8 Further reading 198

Assignments 199

CHAPTER 9

Language across time: Historical linguistics

9.0 Overview 2o3

9.1 Language change and language variation 2o4

9.2 Methods of studying historical linguistics 2o8

9.3 Typology of language change 214

9.4 Causation and predictability 223

9.5 Summary 226

9.6 Further reading 228

Assignments 228

CHAPTER 10

Comparing languages: Language classification,

typology, and contrastive linguistics

lO.O Overview 231

lO.1 External comparison: Identification and status of languages 232

lO.2 Spread and classification of languages 235

lO.3 Language typology and language universals 243

lO.4 Contrastive linguistics 247

lO.5 Summary 255

lO.6 Further reading 256

Assignments 257

References

Index