9 Conceptual structure

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter is concerned with outlining the nature of conceptual structure as assumed by LCCM Theory. It also addresses the way in which language interfaces with the conceptual system in service of situated meaning construction. It argues that a fundamental design feature of human cognition is that linguistic representations provide an indexing and control function with respect to the conceptual system, greatly increasing the range of uses and flexibility of the human conceptual system. However, this does mean that linguistic representations are equivalent to the concepts which populate the conceptual system. In particular, linguistic representations, i.e., symbolic units, evolved to complement and enhance the existing form of representations that inhere in the conceptual system, rather than duplicating them.