Cognitive Linguistics: A Complete Guide

by Vyvyan Evans

The authoritative general introduction to cognitive linguistics Vyvyan Evans covers all aspects of the relationship between language and mind, as well as applications and extensions of cognitive linguistics to the study of text, literature, discourse, and society. Bursting with new content and presented in a new 5-part structure, the book has been fully revised and extensively updated throughout to deliver the complete guide to the cognitive linguistic enterprise. Brand new additions include: an innovative new chapter exploring key topics in language science, a new chapter introducing the range of research methods and approaches for studying human language, mind and behaviour and new chapters exploring areas such as access semantics and meaning construction, conceptual structure, the nature of space, time, gesture and sign language. Key features include:

Genres: Linguistics, Language, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Psychology

896 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2006

About the author

Vyvyan Evans is a native of Chester, England. He holds a PhD in linguistics from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and is a Professor of Linguistics. He has published numerous acclaimed popular science and technical books on language and linguistics. His popular science essays and articles have appeared in numerous venues including 'The Guardian', 'Psychology Today', 'New York Post', 'New Scientist', 'Newsweek' and 'The New Republic'. His award-winning writing focuses, in one way or another, on the nature of language and mind, the impact of technology on language, and the future of communication. His science fiction work explores the status of language and digital communication technology as potential weapons of mass destruction. For further biographical details visit his official website: www.vyvevans.net. For details of his science fiction writing, visit the Songs of the Sage book series website: www.songs-of-the-sage.com.

Reviews

[Sahand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive.
The new edition published in 2019.

[zynphull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only finished with the first two parts, the most relevant ones for my research interests at the time.

In any case, I found this to be an excellent primer on the breadth and depth of cognitive linguistics research. I hadn't read other introductory texts on this subject - only Lakoff's Women, Fire and Dangerous Things and some assorted papers, and I found Evans' and Green's book provided me with a more solid background on the different research venues and theoretical approaches/grounds of cogLing, as well as a good grasp of its main differences both with traditional, Chomskian-inspired generativist grammar and with formal semantic theories.

[Tomek D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a little bit more than a standard introduction. It gives a comprehensive overview of all of the most relevant and frequently studied phenomena in CL and goes into details only when necessary. Definetly for those who would like to learn from a well-written and accessible text. No background knowledge of CL required, which is for sure a plus.

[Natasha Basil · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great book. It touchs upon the main topics in linguistics which are explained from the view of cognitive linguists. More importantly, it uses a formal approach as a basis for comparison. An easy read even for a textbook.

[Mika · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction on such a rich topic!

[Solveig Wherrity Granath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent overview of cognitive linguistics. It is very comprehensive, which makes it suitable also for people with little background in the field.