La linguistique cognitive existe-t-elle?

Abstract

In order to investigate the theoretical status of ‘cognitive linguistics’, I first recall (§ 1) the historical background, in the States, to the two main cognitive trends in linguistics, namely Chomsky’s generative grammar (which participates in the classical symbolic paradigm) and cognitive grammars (which favour a new ‘constructivist’ paradigm).

I then (§2) claim that, in order to deserve the label ‘cognitive’, linguistic theories should, at least, give an explicit account of how meanings and concepts are linked together, and thus give an insight into the interrelations between language and thought. By way of illustration, I evoke two theories by French linguists, holding original views, though remote from the official field knwon as ‘cognitive linguistics’ : Gustave Guillaume’s ‘psychomechanical’ theory of language, and Antoine Culioli’s ‘theory of enunciative operations’.

I finally (§ 3) deal with the search for language universals or invariants (beyond variations between languages) and the specific place devoted to linguistics within the field of cognitive science.

In conclusion, I question the possibility for a unified neuro-psycho-linguistic theory of language to be operational in the near future, and suggest that the first step toward ‘cognitive’ linguistic theories is to share a common epistemological paradigm with other disciplines approaching language from a cognitive point of view