Reviewing Linguistic Thought

Converging Trends for the 21st Century

Sophia Marmaridou, Kiki Nikiforidou, Eleni Antonopoulou, Sophia Marmaridou, Kiki Nikiforidou, Eleni Antonopoulou

• Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN: 9783110183641
• eBook ISBN: 9783110920826
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Linguistics
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

The volume focuses on the interaction of different levels of linguistic analysis (syntax, semantics, pragmatics) and the interfaces between them, on the convergence of different theoretical models in explaining linguistic phenomena, and on recent interdisciplinary approaches to linguistic analysis. Its theoretical importance lies in bringing out and highlighting some of the common trends and directions found in recent theoretical frameworks which focus on themes traditionally downplayed by mainstream 20th century linguistics. It further familiarizes the reader with the methodology used in such frameworks and shows how methodology developed in different theoretical perspectives can often converge in yielding similar results.

While representing different traditions, all papers in this volume assume a necessity for the study of language to be paired with the study of cognition and for linguistics to develop more substantive links to other disciplines, thereby creating converging trends into the new century. The structure of this volume reflects this assumption along a cline of theoretical models and methodologies, starting from those that view language as part of cognition and ending with those that consider the language faculty to be distinct from general cognition. Thus the volume is divided into five parts: (I) relaxing level boundaries, (II) focusing on level interaction, (III) drawing on different theories, (IV) exploring field interaction, and (V) interdisciplinary perspectives on modularity.

The volume is of particular relevance to scholars and students who are interested in an in-depth overview of 20th century linguistics outside/beyond the generative paradigm, and in exploring the development of 20th century legacy into current work.

Table of contents

• List of Contributors
• Introduction: Converging trends for 21st century linguistics: A theoretical background
• Part I: Relaxing level boundaries
• Putting the “same” meaning together from different pieces
• Motivation and convention in some speech act constructions: A cognitive linguistic approach
• Subjectivity in Spanish esperar-based constructions
• Part II: Focusing on level interaction
• Prolegomena to Default Semantics
• Expressivity as an option of tense-aspect in language: The case of Modern Greek imperfective past
• Focus: The interplay of phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics
• Part III: Drawing on different theories
• Greek tragedy as impolite conversation: Towards a practice approach in linguistic theory
• Pragmatic correlates of frequency of use: The case for a notion of “minimal context“
• Metaphor in Greek pain-constructions: Cognitive and functional perspectives
• Contrastive Linguistics: A 21st century perspective
• Part IV: Exploring field interaction
• The nature of language: Twentieth century approaches
• Micro- and macro- dimensions in linguistic systems
• Bilingualism as matchmaker: Towards a marriage of sociopragmatic and psycholinguistic research
• The social and psychological modalities of politeness
• Part V: Interdisciplinary perspectives on modularity
• New directions for research on pragmatics and modularity
• Hearsay devices and metarepresentation
• Subject Index
• Name Index