Cognitive Linguistics and Functional Linguistics Jan Nuyts

Abstract and Keywords

This article examines how cognitive linguistics relates to, complements, and/or differs from other approaches within the wider field of functionally oriented linguistics (of which cognitive linguistics is also a member). In order to avoid terminological confusion, it uses the notion “functional linguistics” strictly to refer to such “other functional approaches” only, to the exclusion of cognitive linguistics. This article discusses the problem of delimiting cognitive linguistics on the one hand, and functional linguistics on the other. It also looks at major dimensions along which one can compare cognitive linguistics and functional linguistics. Moreover, it assesses the position of the two paradigms vis-à-vis the basic theoretical notions from which their names have been derived: “functionalism” and “cognition.” Finally, it considers the theoretical conceptions of language and grammar, along with the “process versus pattern” view of language and mind.