Cognitive Linguistics as An Interdisciplinary Field of Knowledge

Abstract

General Background: Cognitive linguistics has emerged as a dynamic field that explores the interrelation between language and human cognition, contrasting traditional linguistic paradigms that treated language as an autonomous system. Specific Background: Rooted in the cognitive revolution and diverging from structuralist and generativist traditions, cognitive linguistics focuses on the conceptual and experiential dimensions of meaning, emphasizing the cognitive basis of linguistic phenomena. Knowledge Gap: While prior theories like generative grammar emphasized formal structures and syntactic autonomy, they lacked an integrated perspective on how linguistic expressions emerge from mental representations shaped by socio-cultural and psychological contexts. Aims: This paper aims to trace the historical development of cognitive linguistics, highlight its foundational opposition to modular linguistic theories, and illustrate how it aligns with broader cognitive science. Results: The study demonstrates that cognitive linguistics integrates insights from disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, and artificial intelligence, and emphasizes the importance of mental models, conceptual frameworks, and empirical grounding. It outlines the theoretical transition from structural and generative semantics to cognitive semantics and maps the interdisciplinary reach of the field. Novelty: The work synthesizes diverse scholarly contributions to show how cognitive linguistics reconceptualizes language as both a cognitive and cultural process, representing a paradigmatic shift in linguistic thought. Implications: These insights underscore cognitive linguistics’ potential to inform interdisciplinary research and enhance our understanding of language as a reflection of the human mind and social experience.