The grammar network: How linguistic structure is shaped by language use
What is it about?
Many cognitive linguists and usage-based linguists (Bybee, 1985; Langacker, 1987, 1988; Goldberg, 1995; Croft, 2001; Beckner et al., 2009; Hilpert, 2014) view grammar as a network, especially in terms of morphology and lexical semantics. However, as this books notes, such a viewpoint “has not yet been developed into an explicit theory or model” (p. 2). To address this gap in the literature, Diessel presents a dynamic network model of grammar in this book to provide a unified framework for the analysis of language use and linguistic structure, highlighting how the model functions in syntax analysis and frequency effects on language acquisition and language change.
Why is it important?
This book is undoubtedly of excellent quality and rigor. It has purposeful prose, clear structure, novel ideas, a solid theoretical foundation, and convincing arguments. Based on a usage-based approach, it has presented a systematic and dynamic network model of grammar, which aims to give a comprehensive and unified account of various grammatical elements and demonstrate a combination of a network model of grammar with domain-general processes. It approaches the study of grammar from an interdisciplinary perspective, including usagebased linguistics, cognitive linguistics, construction grammar, cognitive psychology, etc.