UNRAVELING THE COGNITIVE MECHANISMS BEHIND COPYING: JOHANSON’S CODE COPYING AND COGNITIVE LINGUISTICS

Authors : Mehmet Akkuş

Pages : 106-128

Doi:10.59257/turkbilig.1553800

View : 121 | Download : 229

Publication Date : 2025-12-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This paper explores the intersection between Johanson’s Code Copying framework and key principles of Cognitive Linguistics, with a focus on language contact in multilingual contexts. Johanson’s theory of code copying provides a comprehensive model for understanding how languages influence one another, emphasizing the selective and global copies of linguistic elements between a model and basic language. Cognitive Linguistics, which posits that language is deeply rooted in general cognitive abilities, offers insights into the mental processes guiding these transfers. This study highlights how both frameworks view language as a dynamic system shaped by cognitive factors like perception, memory, and usage. Johanson’s concept of selective copying aligns with Cognitive Linguistics\\\' emphasis on meaning and conceptual structures, where speakers consciously or subconsciously adopt features that are cognitively compatible with their own language. The paper also explores the role of frequency, demonstrating how frequent exposure to linguistic elements in contact situations increases their likelihood of adoption, a principle central to both Johanson’s frequential copying and the usage-based approach in Cognitive Linguistics. By examining these intersections, the paper offers a deeper understanding of how cognitive processes underlie language change and adaptation in multilingual settings. Johanson’s work, particularly in relation to Turkic languages, serves as a foundational resource for analyzing linguistic convergence, while Cognitive Linguistics provides a broader cognitive perspective, bridging the gap between language contact phenomena and cognitive science.
Keywords : Johanson’un kod kopyalama kuramı, bilişsel dilbilim, sıklık kopyalama

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