Week 4

1. Week 4 Key terms: situation context cognitive model cultural model naïve vs. expert models

2. Context-dependence 1. The hunter took his gun, left the lodge and called his dog. 2. Right from the start of the race, the dogs began chasing the rabbit. 3. She took her dog to the salon to have its curls reset. 4. The policemen lined up with the dogs to face the rioters. What kind of dog comes to mind when you read these sentences?

3. Context-dependence 1. The hunter took his gun, left the lodge and called his dog. 2. Right from the start of the race, the dogs began chasing the rabbit. 3. She took her dog to the salon to have its curls reset. 4. The policemen lined up with the dogs to face the rioters. Notice how the prototype shifts depending on context.

4. Context-dependence 1. The hunter took his gun, left the lodge and called his dog. 2. Right from the start of the race, the dogs began chasing the rabbit. 3. She took her dog to the salon to have its curls reset. 4. The policemen lined up with the dogs to face the rioters. greyhound In many cases, the context significantly reduces the size of the category. poodle

5. Searle (1979): Background assumptions that are necessary for an utterance to make sense Malinowski: Context of the situation and context of the culture Pragmatic/sociolinguistic approaches: Context is related to the speech event in which an utterance is made Cognitive Linguistics: Context is in the mind Context-dependence What is context?

6. The situation is objective and concrete. The context (viewed as a mental representation) is subjective and can change depending on how language is used. Context-dependence Context in Cognitive Linguistics

7. The situation is objective and concrete. The context (viewed as a mental representation) is subjective and can change depending on how language is used. Context-dependence Cognitive categories are also affected by associated contexts. Context in Cognitive Linguistics

8. Cognitive categories are also affected by associated contexts. cognitive model Context-dependence cognitive model (on the beach) Context in Cognitive Linguistics

9. Cognitive categories are also affected by associated contexts. cognitive model Context-dependence Cognitive models: 1. are incomplete (i.e., open-ended) 2. involve networks 3. are an inherent feature of virtually all categorization cognitive model (on vacation) cognitive model (recreation) Context in Cognitive Linguistics cognitive model (on the beach) cognitive model (fishing)

10. = cognitive models shared by a group Compare cultural models for breakfast. Cultural models France U.S. Korea Cultural Models rice, soup (usually miso), vegetable side dishes, etc. (Breakfast foods are also eaten for other meals.) eggs, toast, cereal, milk, coffee, juice, bacon, eggs, sausages, etc. (Almost all breakfast foods are only eaten during breakfast.) croissant coffee

11. Cultural models What’s the naïve model of language suggested by the following phrases: Loosely speaking, …. Strictly speaking, … Naïve vs. Expert Models

12. Cultural models What’s the naïve model of language suggested by the following phrases: Loosely speaking, …. Strictly speaking, … Based on a folk-theory: the idea that words have a truer meaning that corresponds to how things are in the world. Naïve vs. Expert Models