Cognitive Semantics vs. Structural Semantics

Cognitive Grammar has undergone many developments since its inception in1976. It was originally introduced as “Cognitive Construction Grammar” by Ronald Langacker and George Lakoff.The title triggered the question in my mind that if cognitive and structural linguistics are of the same origin. As I assumed that they arguably are, I have decided in this article to trace their seeminglydifferent derivational routes back to a common basis.Therefore, in this unprecedented genealogical research, I will first set out to review the diverse but related theories molded under the two rubrics in question, focusing on their roots in Saussurian Linguistics. Given the significance of cognitive approach,especially to the semantic methodology, its comparison with the preceding approaches may shed light on certain semantic problems as well. Then I will pinpoint two different outlooks taken in the two metatheories regarding the notions “prototype”, “polysemy”, and “concept”. I have adopted the library-method to carry out a research that is theoretical in nature.