Functional linguistics, cognitive linguistics and construction grammar: mapping the field of cognitive-functional approaches

Abstract

Functional Linguistics (FL), Cognitive Linguistics (CL) and Construction Grammar (CG) are currently conceived as mutually compatible (if not largely overlapping) frameworks. This state of affairs tends to obscure the limits and differences between them, possibly leading to important misunderstandings. Given this (potential) problem, we address the following question: what are the limits, as well as areas of intersection, between CL, FL and CG? In a effort to provide an adequate answer, we adopt two simultaneous viewpoints: a historical one, in which we seek to briefly reconstruct the origins of each framework, and a contemporary one, in which we briefly describe the current state of the art in each field. In sum, we argue that (i) each framework emerged as a response to a different feature of the generative paradigm, and (ii) their historical development has led to a situation of significant convergence, but by no means complete overlap.