Glossary

We consider the Glossary* as a crucial step towards integrating several disciplines — cognitive semantics, theory of discourse, social and cognitive semiotics and sociolinguistics into a unified socio-cognitive approach.

Importantly, the Glossary is not only intended for undergraduate and postgraduate students, but in most cases compiled by them.

By this project we pursue several objectives: firstly, to define the key notions from various disciplines which are used in socio-cognitive studies; secondly, to expand on the list of the basic terms that are traditionally included into the theoretical linguistic courses for students. Thirdly, following the principle “Complex Ideas Through Simple Words” we try to encourage students to compile glossary entries. On the one hand, it will give them an opportunity to create a user-friendly Glossary that would serve as a quick-reference book. On the other hand, it will help them to learn how to describe the terms related to their research topics in a precise and compressed way.

As the Glossary is a result of continuous contribution of more experienced and less experienced researchers, at some stages imbalances between the disciplines and imperfections of description are possible.

* The Glossary is compiled with the support of the Russian Science Foundation (project № 14-28-00130, The Institute of Linguistics, Russian Academy of Sciences)