Cognitive semantics
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| - | '''Prototype theory''' is a mode of graded [[categorization]] in [[cognitive science]], where some members of a category are more central than others. For example, when asked to give an example of the concept ''furniture'', ''chair'' is more frequently | ||
| - | cited than, say, ''stool''. | ||
| - | Prototype theory also plays a central role in [[linguistics]], as part of the mapping from [[phonology|phonological structure]] to [[semantics]]. | ||
| - | As formulated in the 1970s by [[Eleanor Rosch]] and others, | + | '''Cognitive semantics''' is part of the [[cognitive linguistics]] movement. The main tenets of cognitive semantics are, first, that grammar is conceptualisation; second, that conceptual structure is [[embodied philosophy|embodied]] and motivated by usage; and third, that the ability to use language draws upon general cognitive resources and not a special [[language module]]. |
| - | prototype theory was a | + | |
| - | radical departure from traditional necessary and sufficient conditions as in [[Aristotelian logic]], which led to | + | As part of the field of cognitive linguistics, the cognitive semantics approach rejects the traditional separation of [[linguistics]] into [[phonology]], [[syntax]], [[pragmatics]], etc. Instead, it divides semantics (meaning) into ''meaning-construction'' and ''knowledge representation''. Therefore, cognitive semantics studies much of the area traditionally devoted to [[pragmatics]] as well as [[semantics]]. |
| - | set-theoretic approaches of [[Extension (semantics)|extensional]] or [[intensional]] [[semantics]]. Thus instead of a [[definition]] based model - e.g. a bird may be defined as elements with the features [+feathers], [+beak] and [+ability to fly], prototype theory would consider a category like bird as | + | |
| - | consisting of different elements which have unequal status - e.g. a ''robin'' is more prototypical of a ''bird'' than, say a ''penguin''. This leads to a graded notion of categories, which is a central notion in many models of [[cognitive science]] and [[cognitive semantics]], e.g. in the work of [[George Lakoff]] (''Women, Fire and Dangerous Things'', 1987) or | + | The techniques native to cognitive semantics are typically used in [[lexicology|lexical]] studies such as those put forth by [[Leonard Talmy]], [[George Lakoff]], [[Dirk Geeraerts]] and [[Bruce Wayne Hawkins]]. Some cognitive semantic frameworks, such as that developed by Talmy, take into account syntactic structures as well. |
| - | [[Ronald Langacker]] (''Foundations of Cognitive Grammar'', vol. 1/2 1987/1991). | + | |
| - | The term prototype has been defined in [[Eleanor Rosch]]'s study "Natural Categories" (1973) and was first defined as a stimulus, which takes a salient position in the formation of a category as it is the first stimulus to be associated with that category. Later, she redefined it as the most central member of a category. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | *[[Family resemblance]] | + | *[[Force Dynamics]] |
| - | *[[Folksonomy]] | + | *[[Image schema]] |
| - | *[[Semantic feature-comparison model]] | + | *[[Cognitive linguistics]] |
| + | *[[Conceptual role semantics]] | ||
| + | *[[Frame semantics (linguistics)|Frame semantics]] | ||
| + | *[[Construction grammar]] | ||
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| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
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Cognitive semantics is part of the cognitive linguistics movement. The main tenets of cognitive semantics are, first, that grammar is conceptualisation; second, that conceptual structure is embodied and motivated by usage; and third, that the ability to use language draws upon general cognitive resources and not a special language module.
As part of the field of cognitive linguistics, the cognitive semantics approach rejects the traditional separation of linguistics into phonology, syntax, pragmatics, etc. Instead, it divides semantics (meaning) into meaning-construction and knowledge representation. Therefore, cognitive semantics studies much of the area traditionally devoted to pragmatics as well as semantics.
The techniques native to cognitive semantics are typically used in lexical studies such as those put forth by Leonard Talmy, George Lakoff, Dirk Geeraerts and Bruce Wayne Hawkins. Some cognitive semantic frameworks, such as that developed by Talmy, take into account syntactic structures as well.
See also
- Force Dynamics
- Image schema
- Cognitive linguistics
- Conceptual role semantics
- Frame semantics
- Construction grammar
