Linguistic Prototypes and Their Application in Real World Cognition

Subject Areas : Persian Language and Literature

Faegheh Shahhoseyni ¹ (M.A. in General Linguistics, Allameh Tabataba’i Univerisity)

Received: 2011-02-01 Accepted : 2011-06-21 Published : 2011-08-23

Keywords:

Abstract :

The present study explores the notion of categorization and prototypes based on cognitive approaches. In cognitive semantics, language is not separated from mind and cognition.  A main objective of this study is to seek a comprehensive explanation for prototype and its importance in cognitive studies. Meanwhile, the researcher uses the prototype theory as an analytical tool. According to this theory, the prototype is the central example of the category and other members assigns their membership by means of a judgment of similarity to a central example. The results show that the language phenomena's depends on form and function. In other words, to analyze language we should consider both form and function. Although prototype is primarily a semantic concept, but in order to study language we must notice the structural implications too.

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