COGS 50.03 Introduction into Cognitive Linguistics

This course provides an introduction to cognitive linguistics, a field that investigates the relationship between language and human cognition. Cognitive linguistics emphasizes the role of our bodies and brains in shaping our understanding and use of language. The course explores how our physical experiences and cognitive abilities affect language structure and use. For instance, our attentional biases add nuances to our word choices in spatial and temporal constructions, and our physical experiences influence our expression of mental and emotional concepts. Throughout the course, we will cover major cognitive linguistic concepts, including metaphor, categorization, frame semantics, goal bias, and prototype theory. Additionally, we will examine how these and other cognitive linguistic concepts can be applied to a variety of real-world phenomena, such as online media, humor, second language learning, and even gesticulation. The course format incorporates lectures, reading discussions, practical exercises, creative assignments, and a research project. Students will employ diverse research methods, including behavioral experiments, linguistic corpora analysis, and interviews.

Instructor

Apresyan

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:TAS

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Offered

• Fall