Some Basic Concepts Of Cognitive Linguistics And Their Application To The Analysis Of Lexical Inclusion

Cognitive linguistics originated in the late seventies and early eighties and it had two different sources: one was the furtherment of interest in semantic phenomenon that was typical of Generative Semantics movement; the other was the inspiration from Rosch's psycholinguistic research on prototype-based forms of categorization.Cognitive linguistics, unlike other schools of linguistics, takes meanings as its theoretical basis. It is the study of language in its cognitive function, where cognitive refers to the crucial role of intermediate informational structures in our encounters with the world.Since cognitive linguistics was established, such important theories of this paradigm as prototype theory and basic level categories theory have been tested, proved and widely used in the analysis of linguistic phenomenon. This thesis is an examination of a semantic topic: lexical inclusion, from the perspective of some cognitive linguistic theories.After a bird's eye view of the tortuous development that semantics has experienced and a contrast of two influential approaches to meaning, we can get the impression that the problem of meaning is more than a linguistic dispute but is closely connected with humans' cognition. Therefore, the establishment of cognitive linguistics is inevitable.After examining the three foundation stones of cognitive linguistics: categorization, prototype theory and basic level categories theory, the author finds that these theories are applicable in the study of lexical inclusion (which includes synonymy and hyponymy). Then the thesis applies the aforementioned cognitive linguistic theories to the analysis of lexical inclusion.Through careful analysis of the sources and the common classifications of English synonyms and scrutiny of D. A. Cruse' discussion of synonymy, in the light of prototype theory, we believe that synonymy is a prototypical category. Allmembers in the category of synonymy have different status. Absolute synonymy is the best exemplar or prototype of synonymy.According to the prototype theory, it is very important to evaluate the different weight of semantic traits evolved in the determination of the degree of synonymity. Within evoked meaning of cognitive synonymy, the semantic trait register includes field , mode and tenor. From the discussion in Chapter four, we can draw the conclusion: (1) field, mode and tenor have different weights; (2) tenor, as a dimension of variation among synonyms, weights more than field or mode.When we come to hyponymy, the definition is discussed in some detail to avoid confusion. The conclusion is that at least in linguistics, the discussion of hyponymy should be based on intention rather than extension.From the perspective of Basic Level Categories theory, we can see that the choice one can make between one term, its superordinate and its hyponym, is not a random one, but are cognitively determined.After a deeper understanding of synonymy and hyponymy, the functions of synonyms and hyponyms in communication are analyzed . Synonyms and hyponyms share many functions: both can help us relieve monotony, avoid trivial repetition and achieve variety of expressions in writing and speech; both are superb cohesive markers; both can make our writing and speech vivid and expressive.