Functional approaches to language / edited by Shannon T. Bischoff, Carmen Jany.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Bischoff, Shannon T.

Jany, Carmen, 1970-

Series:

Trends in Linguistics. Studies and Monographs [TiLSM]

Trends in linguistics. Studies and monographs ; 248

Trends in Linguistics. Studies and Monographs [TiLSM] ; 248

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Functional discourse grammar--Congresses.

Functional discourse grammar.

Functionalism (Linguistics)--Congresses.

Functionalism (Linguistics).

Structural linguistics--Congresses.

Structural linguistics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (260 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berlin ; Boston : De Gruyter Mouton, [2013]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Functionalism, as characterized by Allen, (2007:254) "holds that linguistic structures can only be understood and explained with reference to the semantic and communicative functions of language, whose primary function is to be a vehicle for social interaction among human beings." Since the 1970's, inspired by the work of Jespersen, Bolinger, Dik, Halliday, and Chafe, functionalism has been attached to a variety of movements and models making major contributions to linguistic theory and to various subfields within linguistics, such as syntax, discourse, language acquisition, cognitive linguistics, typology, and documentary linguistics. Further, functional approaches have had a major impact outside linguistics in fields such as psychology and education, both in terms of theory and application. The main goal of functionalist approaches is to clarify the dynamic relationship between form and function (Thompson 2003:53). Functionalist perspectives have gained more ground over the past decades with more linguists resorting to functional explanations to account for linguistic structure. The authors in this volume present the current state of functional approaches to linguistic inquiry expanding our knowledge of language and linguistics.

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Introduction / Bischoff, Shannon T. / Jany, Carmen

On the Intellectual Roots of Functionalism in Linguistics / Givón, T.

Functional Explanation and its Uses / Itkonen, Esa

Structure and Function: A Niche-Constructional Approach / Harder, Peter

Toward a Thought-Based Linguistics / Chafe, Wallace

Changing Language / Kaschak, Michael P. / Ann Gernsbacher, Morton

An Outline of Discourse Grammar / Heine, Bernd / Kaltenböck, Gunther / Kuteva, Tania / Long, Haiping

Towards an Experimental Functional Linguistics: Production / Menn, Lise / Duffield, Cecily Jill / Narasimhan, Bhuvana

Acknowledgements

References

Index

Notes:

International conference proceedings.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9783110484762

3110484765

9783110285338

3110285339

9783110285321

3110285320

OCLC:

862369815