This book is intended to be used as a textbook in classes of English grammar and linguistics and in courses of general linguistics. The book should ideally be used with advanced undergraduate students or graduate students, i.e. with students who are familiar with the basic notions of linguistics and English grammar. It presents a balanced view of cognitive linguistic theory and selected problem areas of English grammar. Essentially, it seeks to give students a deeper insight into the nature of grammar as a human achievement and into the cognitive principles that motivate its structure.
The traditional approach to grammar focuses on forms, structures and rules. Not surprisingly, this approach tends to have a deterrent effect on students. By contrast, the cognitive approach to grammar focuses on language as a tool of conceptualisation and hence on the meaningfulness of language. Students learn to see the study of language as a fascinating and challenging field of human experience.

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