Forschungsprojekt ::

Predictive Construction Grammar – Developing a neuro-cognitive model of linguistic creativity

Projektbeschreibung

Linguistic creativity is a fascinating human trait – we can create new communicative possibilities that go beyond what we have previously encountered and say things that we have never said before. The present interdisciplinary constellation of cognitive linguistics and neurocognitive psychology opens up a new research approach to linguistic creativity: The aim of the present project is to develop the first predictive neurocognitive model that explains the online use and learning of creative constructions. The envisioned model will combine and integrate existing models and theories from cognitive linguistics, cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience. It will specify precisely the processes involved in language comprehension and production, and hence, will allow for deriving testable predictions that can later be investigated in empirical studies. A particular focus will be on those aspects of language usage that are unique to humans, i.e., learning of constructions from single examples and the creative generation of novel constructions. Our cooperation will open up a completely new area for interdisciplinary cognitive linguistic and neurocognitive research that will considerably further our understanding of (linguistic) creativity.