An Introduction to Word Grammar

A theory of language structure based on the assumption that language is a network and all of knowledge is learned.

Richard Hudson (Author)

9780521721646, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 29 July 2010

348 pages, 106 b/w illus. 12 tables
24.7 x 17.4 x 1.7 cm, 0.69 kg

'Masterfully written and meticulously organised, Richard Hudson's book describes how general principles of categorization and cognitive processing give rise to the network structure of language, and English grammar in particular. This is essential and accessible reading for anyone interested in the induction, generalization and organization of language in the mind.' Peter Robinson, Aoyama Gakuin University

Word grammar is a theory of language structure and is based on the assumption that language, and indeed the whole of knowledge, is a network, and that virtually all of knowledge is learned. It combines the psychological insights of cognitive linguistics with the rigour of more formal theories. This textbook spans a broad range of topics from prototypes, activation and default inheritance to the details of syntactic, morphological and semantic structure. It introduces elementary ideas from cognitive science and uses them to explain the structure of language including a survey of English grammar.

Part I. How the Mind Works: 1. Introduction to cognitive science
2. Categorization
3. Network structure
4. Network activity
Part II. How Language Works: 5. Introduction to linguistics
6. Words as concepts
7. Syntax
8. Using and learning language
Part III. How English Works: 9. Introduction to English linguistics
10. English words
11. English syntax.

Subject Areas: Cognition & cognitive psychology [JMR], Grammar, syntax & morphology [CFK], Semantics, discourse analysis, etc [CFG], Psycholinguistics [CFD], Philosophy of language [CFA]