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Lexical concepts, cognitive models and meaning-construction.
- Source :
-
Cognitive Linguistics . 2006, Vol. 17 Issue 4, p491-534. 44p. 6 Diagrams, 1 Chart. - Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- In this paper I address the role of words in meaning-construction. My starting point is the observation that the ‘meanings’ associated with words are protean in nature. That is, the semantic values associated with words are flexible, open-ended and highly dependent on the utterance context in which they are embedded. In attempting to provide an account of meaning-construction that coheres with this observation I develop a cognitively-realistic theory of lexical representation and a programmatic theory of lexical concept integration. My fundamental claim is that there is a basic distinction between lexical concepts, and meaning. While lexical concepts constitute the semantic units conventionally associated with linguistic forms, and form an integral part of a language user's individual mental grammar, meaning is a property of situated usage-events, rather than words. That is, meaning is not a function of language per se, but arises from language use. I present an account of lexical concepts and the conceptual knowledge structures, cognitive models, with respect to which they are relativised. I also situate this theory within a usage-based account. I then develop a theory of lexical concept integration which serves to provide an account of how lexical concepts are combined in service of situated meaning-construction. As the constructs lexical concept and cognitive model are central to the theory of lexical representation and meaning-construction I present, I refer to the approach developed here as the Theory of Lexical Concepts and Cognitive Models, or LCCM Theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09365907
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Cognitive Linguistics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23368357
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1515/COG.2006.016