The Meaning of Constructions

Benoît Leclercq (University of Lille), Cameron Morin (University of Paris-Cité)

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English

Cambridge University Press
22 May 2025

Sociolinguistics; Psycholinguistics; Semantics; Grammar, syntax

Series: Elements in Construction Grammar

This Element offers a primer for the study of meaning in a Construction Grammar approach. It reviews the main principles of meaning shared across constructionist frameworks, including its ubiquity in grammatical structure, its usage-based formation, and its nature as the output of cognitive representations. It also reviews the importance given to meaning in construction-based explanations of sentence composition, innovative language use, and language change. Paradoxically, the Element shows that there is no systematic framework delineating the rich structure of constructional meaning, which has led to theoretical disagreements and inconsistencies. It therefore proposes an operational model of meaning for practitioners of Construction Grammar. It details the characteristics of a complex interface of semantic, pragmatic, and social meaning, and shows how this framework sheds light on recent theoretical issues. The Element concludes by considering ways in which this framework can be used for future descriptive and theoretical research questions.

By: Benoît Leclercq (University of Lille), Cameron Morin (University of Paris-Cité)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
ISBN: 9781009499637
ISBN 10: 1009499637
Series: Elements in Construction Grammar
Pages: 84
Publication Date: 22 May 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

1. Introduction; 2. The meaning-based assumption; 3. Meaning in use; 4. A framework of constructional meaning; 5. Conclusion and outlook; References.