Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 2012 im Fachbereich Anglistik - Linguistik, Note: 1,0, Universität zu Köln (Englisches Seminar I), Veranstaltung: Semantics, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: This paper will deal with prototype theory and its problems. The first part of the paper will provide a brief introduction into prototype theory. It will be based on the experimental and theoretical work done by Eleanor Rosch and her colleagues in the 1970s. Rosch’s work can easily be considered the most important work in the field of prototype theory as Rosch’s work marked the beginning of prototype theory. The focus of the first and more theoretical part of the paper lies on the structure of conceptual categories, as this is where most critics of prototype theory take aim at. The second part of the term paper will be dedicated to a selection of the most commonly brought up problems of prototype theory. In the conclusion it will be discussed whether or not prototype theory is relevant for linguistics.

"Its publication should be a major event for cognitive linguistics and should pose a major challenge for cognitive science. In addition, it should have repercussions in a variety of disciplines, ranging from anthropology and psychology to epistemology and the philosophy of science. . . . Lakoff asks: What do categories of language and thought reveal about the human mind? Offering both general theory and minute details, Lakoff shows that categories reveal a great deal."—David E. Leary, American Scientist

Concepts embody our knowledge of the kinds of things there are in the world. Tying our past experiences to our present interactions with the environment, they enable us to recognize and understand new objects and events. Concepts are also relevant to understanding domains such as social situations, personality types, and even artistic styles. Yet like other phenomenologically simple cognitive processes such as walking or understanding speech, concept formation and use are maddeningly complex. Research since the 1970s and the decline of the "classical view" of concepts have greatly illuminated the psychology of concepts. But persistent theoretical disputes have sometimes obscured this progress. The Big Book of Concepts goes beyond those disputes to reveal the advances that have been made, focusing on the major empirical discoveries. By reviewing and evaluating research on diverse topics such as category learning, word meaning, conceptual development in infants and children, and the basic level of categorization, the book develops a much broader range of criteria than is usual for evaluating theories of concepts.

Phonology - the study of how the sounds of speech are represented in our minds - is one of the core areas of linguistic theory, and is central to the study of human language. This handbook brings together the world's leading experts in phonology to present the most comprehensive and detailed overview of the field. Focusing on research and the most influential theories, the authors discuss each of the central issues in phonological theory, explore a variety of empirical phenomena, and show how phonology interacts with other aspects of language such as syntax, morphology, phonetics, and language acquisition. Providing a one-stop guide to every aspect of this important field, The Cambridge Handbook of Phonology will serve as an invaluable source of readings for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, an informative overview for linguists and a useful starting point for anyone beginning phonological research.

This is the first exhaustive investigation of gradience in syntax, conceived of as grammatical indeterminacy. It looks at gradience in English word classes, phrases, clauses and constructions, and examines how it may be defined and differentiated. Bas Aarts draws on, and reviews, work in psychology, philosophy and language from Aristotle to Chomsky, and writes clearly on a fascinating and important aspect of language and cognition.