Caminhos da linguística cognitiva: uma homenagem a Lilian Ferrari

Abstract

Based on the view of Cognitive Linguistics (CL) as a heterogeneous and constantly expanding theoretical field that investigates the relationship between language and cognition, this text discusses the properties that unify its different theories and frameworks. Originally centered on the conceptual motivation of grammar, CL has come to encompass discursive, literary, and usage-based studies – all while maintaining a consistent focus on domain-general cognitive operations. We also show how Professor Lilian Ferrari’s academic trajectory, which mirrors the field of Cognitive Linguistics insofar as it combines unity and diversity, played a crucial role in advancing the cognitive enterprise in Brazil, both in theoretical and institutional terms.