Iconicity in cognitive and functional linguistics

Abstract The aim of this chapter is to point out some overlaps between the theory of iconicity and the frameworks of Cognitive Linguistics (CL), Cognitive Grammar (CG), and Functional Linguistics (FL). All these fields of study focus upon a common goal; that is, providing explanations for mechanisms that underlie the passage from sensuous and/or mental perception to conception to expression (and back). Thus their respective findings can be profitably used to promote our comprehensive knowledge about these mechanisms. To substantiate the claim, the chapter discusses possible extensions of some crucial notions of CL, CG, and FL (similarity, subjectification, symbolicity of grammar, Idealized Cognitive Models, image schemas, and mental spaces) to include iconic aspects of the phenomena, which tend to be neglected or marginalized by the majority of linguists of cognitivist persuasion. While advocating possible extensions of cognitivist assumptions over iconic aspects of language and language communication, the analysis ends with a word of warning against excessive generalization: at a level of schematicity that is too high, everything can become a sign of everything else, thus losing all theoretical or practical value.