Cognitive Sociolinguistics: Language Variation, Cultural Models, Social Systems

Description

A union of Cognitive Linguistics and Sociolinguistics was bound to happen. Both proclaim a usage-based approach to language and aim to analyse actual language use in objective ways. Whereas Sociolinguistics is by nature on the outlook for language in its variety, CL can no longer afford to ignore social variation in language as it manifests itself in the usage data. Nor can it fail to adopt an empirical methodology that reflects variation as it actually occurs, beyond the limited knowledge of the individual observer. Conversely, while CL can only benefit from a heightened sensitivity to social aspects, the rich, bottom-up theoretical framework it has developed is likely to contribute to a much better understanding of the meaning of variationist phenomena. The volume brings together fifteen chapters written by prominent scholars testifying of rich empirical and theoretizing research into the social aspects of language variation. Taking a broad view on Cognitive Sociolinguistics, the volume covers three main areas: corpus-based research on language variation, cognitive cultural models, and the ideologies of sociopolitical and socio-economic systems. Frontmatter Table of contents Introduction. Cognitive Sociolinguistics: Rationale, methods and scope Prototypes, stereotypes, and semantic norms Style-shifting and shifting styles: A socio-cognitive approach to lectal variation Methodological issues in corpus-based Cognitive Linguistics Channel and constructional meaning: A collostructional case study National variation in the use of er “there”. Regional and diachronic constraints on cognitive explanations Variation in the choice of adjectives in the two main national varieties of Dutch Rationalist or romantic model in globalisation? A nation is a territory with one culture and one language: The role of metaphorical folk models in language policy debates Cultural models of Home in Aboriginal children’s English A Cognitive Linguistic approach to the cultures of World Englishes: The emergence of a new model Corporate brands as socio-cognitive representations Metaphorically speaking: Gender and classroom discourse The business model of the university: Sources and consequences of its construal Competition, cooperation, and interconnection: ‘Metaphor families’ and social systems How cognitive linguists can help to solve political problems Backmatter