Chapter 4. Dual processing in a functional-cognitive theory of grammar and its neurocognitive basis
-
Kasper Boye
Abstract
Functional-cognitive linguists are typically more interested in what is shared between grammar and other aspects of language than in what is special about grammar. Construction grammar as the currently most prominent functional-cognitive theory of grammar explicitly downplays the grammar-lexicon distinction and suggests a model based on the notion of ‘constructicon’ as a unified inventory of linguistic expressions. In a neurocognitive perspective, this goes naturally with the idea of a single processing mechanism. Neurolinguistic evidence does not support this extreme position, however, but rather suggests a significant difference between lexical and grammatical processing. There is thus a need for a more well-developed functional-cognitive theory of the neurocognitive underpinning of the grammar-lexicon distinction. In this chapter we present a theory of the specific nature of grammar, which integrates three recent theories: a usage-based linguistic theory of the grammar-lexicon distinction (Boye & Harder 2012), a theory of the distinction between declarative and procedural memory (Ullman 2001, 2004), and a theory of brain organization (Mogensen 2011).
Abstract
Functional-cognitive linguists are typically more interested in what is shared between grammar and other aspects of language than in what is special about grammar. Construction grammar as the currently most prominent functional-cognitive theory of grammar explicitly downplays the grammar-lexicon distinction and suggests a model based on the notion of ‘constructicon’ as a unified inventory of linguistic expressions. In a neurocognitive perspective, this goes naturally with the idea of a single processing mechanism. Neurolinguistic evidence does not support this extreme position, however, but rather suggests a significant difference between lexical and grammatical processing. There is thus a need for a more well-developed functional-cognitive theory of the neurocognitive underpinning of the grammar-lexicon distinction. In this chapter we present a theory of the specific nature of grammar, which integrates three recent theories: a usage-based linguistic theory of the grammar-lexicon distinction (Boye & Harder 2012), a theory of the distinction between declarative and procedural memory (Ullman 2001, 2004), and a theory of brain organization (Mogensen 2011).
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- The brain and the mind behind grammar 1
-
Part I. Dualistic approaches to language and cognition
- Chapter 1. Familiar phrases in language competence 29
- Chapter 2. Dual process frameworks on reasoning and linguistic discourse 59
- Chapter 3. Language activity in the light of cerebral hemisphere differences 91
- Chapter 4. Dual processing in a functional-cognitive theory of grammar and its neurocognitive basis 133
-
Part II. Dualistic approaches to the analysis of forms and structures in languages
- Chapter 5. Dichotomous or continuous? 159
- Chapter 6. The semantics, syntax and prosody of adverbs in English 191
- Chapter 7. Formulaic language and Discourse Grammar 233
- Chapter 8. Local and global structures in discourse and interaction 267
- Chapter 9. Agreement Groups and dualistic syntactic processing 309
- Index 355
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- The brain and the mind behind grammar 1
-
Part I. Dualistic approaches to language and cognition
- Chapter 1. Familiar phrases in language competence 29
- Chapter 2. Dual process frameworks on reasoning and linguistic discourse 59
- Chapter 3. Language activity in the light of cerebral hemisphere differences 91
- Chapter 4. Dual processing in a functional-cognitive theory of grammar and its neurocognitive basis 133
-
Part II. Dualistic approaches to the analysis of forms and structures in languages
- Chapter 5. Dichotomous or continuous? 159
- Chapter 6. The semantics, syntax and prosody of adverbs in English 191
- Chapter 7. Formulaic language and Discourse Grammar 233
- Chapter 8. Local and global structures in discourse and interaction 267
- Chapter 9. Agreement Groups and dualistic syntactic processing 309
- Index 355
