Cognitive Grammar

This chapter illustrates key features and development in Cognitive Grammar. It starts by focusing on the so-called grammar-lexicon continuum. Then it discusses key cognitive abilities and cognitive models. Among the former are association, categorization, automatization, construal, the reference-point ability, and fictivity. The latter include the stage model, the billiard-ball model, and the control cycle. The rest of the chapter is concerned with introducing the conceptual characterization of grammatical classes and roles and illustrating the claim that traditional hierarchical constituency is neither necessary nor desirable within a dynamic account of language use.