Overview
This book presents a radical reconceptualization of the nature of linguistic knowledge. John Taylor challenges the conventional notion that a language can be understood in terms of the interaction of syntax with a lexicon, the second listing the words and the first the rules for combining them. He proposes instead that an individual's knowledge of a language can be thought of as a repository of memories of linguistic experience. Each encounter with the language, he argues, leaves a trace in our minds. We record the forms of utterances, the concepts and interpretations associated with them, and the contexts in which they were heard or seen. Features of incoming language - a word, a phrase, a meaning, a voice quality, an interactional situation - resonate with items already stored. Similarities between stored items give rise to generalizations of varying degrees of certainty and precision, which in turn are able to sanction new and innovative expressions. John Taylor writes with conviction, clarity, and wit, illustrating every stage of his argument with arresting examples. His account makes a profound and original contribution to understanding the nature of language and the operations of the mind and brain. His book will appeal in equal measure to linguists, philosophers, and cognitive scientists.
Full Product Details
Author: John R. Taylor
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Dimensions:
Width: 15.70cm
, Height: 1.80cm
, Length: 23.50cm
Weight: 0.500kg
ISBN: 9780199290819
ISBN 10: 0199290814
Pages: 330
Publication Date: 27 November 2014
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Reviews
a cornerstone reference for years to come. Martin Hilpert, Functions of Language
A major step towards an empirically grounded cognitive-linguistic theory of language...his book is equally recommendable to students of linguistics, advanced scholars, and even interested laypersons...Taylor's book is highly recommended for anyone interested in usage-based theories of language and linguistic knowledge. It offers valuable insights not only to cognitive linguists and corpus linguists, but also to historical linguists and second language teachers. --Linguist List
a cornerstone reference for years to come. Martin Hilpert, Functions of Language This is a very nicely written, accessible, and up-to-date useful introduction and overview on the idea of a mental corpus . Our students love it and it is very helpful for our general intros to cognitive linguistics and construction grammar. I hope this will spark lots of new and exciting term papers, BA and MA theses! Alexander Bergs, Osnabrueck University
"[T]his book is a well-written, accessible, and often compelling account of a very exciting new view of language. Researchers and theoreticians in many areas of Applied Linguistics will find a wealth of ideas brought together in a stimulating and coherent (if occasionally under-specified) way, and students will benefit from the lively discussion and counterpoint Taylor offers of some of the key topics in this field. * Peter Thwaites, British Association for Applied Linguistics * a cornerstone reference for years to come. * Martin Hilpert, Functions of Language * This is a very nicely written, accessible, and up-to-date useful introduction and overview on the idea of a ""mental corpus"". Our students love it and it is very helpful for our general intros to cognitive linguistics and construction grammar. I hope this will spark lots of new and exciting term papers, BA and MA theses! * Alexander Bergs, Osnabrueck University *"
Author Information
John R. Taylor is the author of Linguistic Categorization (3rd edn 2003), Possessives in English (pbk edn 2003); and Cognitive Grammar (2002) all published by OUP.
