Cognitive Discourse Analysis

Analysing language data systematically and looking closely at how people formulate their thoughts can reveal astonishing insights about the human mind. Without presupposing specific subject knowledge, this book gently introduces its readers to theoretical insights as well as practical principles for systematic linguistic analysis from a cognitive perspective. Drawing on Thora Tenbrink's twenty years' experience in both linguistics and cognitive science, this book offers theoretical guidance and practical advice for doing cognitive discourse analysis. It covers areas of analysis as diverse as attention, perspective, granularity, certainty, inference, transformation, communication, and cognitive strategies, using inspiring examples from many different projects. Simple techniques and tools are used to allow readers new to the subject easy ways to apply the methods, without the need for complex technologies, whilst the cross-disciplinary approach can be applied to a diverse range of research purposes and contexts in which language and thought play a role.

'This well-presented, well-organized research treatise on the delicate relationship between language and thought zeros in on how linguistic markers in discourse, both oral and written, offer a credible insight into the pathways of cognition … The book is excellent …' K. Liu, Choice, 'Tenbrink's extensive knowledge of the field and her ability to convey this in accessible terms makes the book an excellent contribution to the work on cognition, language and discourse, just as it can be used as an inspiration for further exploring particular areas of interest in the field.' Lise-Lotte Holmgreen, LaMiCus

Thora Tenbrink is a Reader in Cognitive Linguistics at Bangor University. Her previous books include Space, Time, and the Use of Language (2007) and three co-edited books on spatial language and cognition.