The Cognitive Linguistics Reader - Vyvyan Evans

The Cognitive Linguistics Reader - Vyvyan Evans

28. Linguistic Selection: An Utterance-based Evolutionary Theory of Language

The Cognitive Linguistics Reader - Vyvyan Evans

William Croft
University of New Mexico

Description

In this essay the author argues against an 'essentialist' view which defines language as a system of abstract rules; instead, in his evolutionary model of language, the utterance is the fundamental unit of analysis. By adopting such a radically usage-based approach, the author integrates change as an integral part for a theory of language and encourages the discussion of the representationalist view of meaning underlying much of cognitive semantics.

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Citation

Croft, William. 28. Linguistic Selection: An Utterance-based Evolutionary Theory of Language. The Cognitive Linguistics Reader. Equinox eBooks Publishing, United Kingdom. p. 929-966 Nov 2007. ISBN 9781845531102. https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/view-chapter/?id=31574. Date accessed: 04 Oct 2024 doi: 10.1558/equinox.31574. Nov 2007

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