Applied cognitive linguistics and foreign language learning. Introduction to the special issue

Alberto Hijazo-Gascon, Reyes Llopis-García

Research output: Contribution to journalEditorialpeer-review

Abstract

This introduction provides an overview of the intersection between Applied Cognitive Linguistics and Second/Foreign Language Learning. First, the relevance of Cognitive Linguistics (CL) for Applied Linguistics in general is discussed. The second section explains the main principles of CL and how each relates to the acquisition of second languages: (i) language and human cognition, (ii) language as symbolic, (iii) language as motivated; and (iv) language as usage-based. Section three offers a review of previous literature on CL and L2s that are different from English, as it is one the main aims of this Special Issue to provide state-of-the-art research and scholarship to enhance the bigger picture of the field of Second Language Acquisition beyond English as the target language. Spanish as L2/FL in Applied Cognitive Linguistics is the focus of the next section, which leads to a brief overview of the papers included in the Issue, featuring Spanish as the L2 with L1s such as English, French, German and Italian. Polysemy, Motion Events Typology, Cognitive Grammar and Construction Grammar are the Cognitive Linguistics areas addressed in the contributions here presented.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-20
Number of pages20
JournalInternational Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teachings
Volume57
Issue number1
Early online date15 Dec 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2019

Keywords

  • Cognitive Grammar
  • Cognitive Linguistics
  • Construction Grammar
  • Motion Events
  • Polysemy
  • Second Language Acquisition
  • Spanish

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