本书是有关认知语言学的基本概念、内容和方法的介绍，由曼彻斯特大学的WIIliam Croft和.A.an Cruse共同撰写。Croft主要从事语言类型学研究，并据此提出了激进构式语法理论(Rad
ical ConStrUCtion Grammar，2001)。CrlJse主要从事词汇语义学研究，曾出版过《词汇语义学》(Lexlcal Semantisc,1986)等具有影响的语义学著作。本书正是两人发挥各自的特长和优势、通力合作的结果。全书內容可分为三个部分，第一部分主要介绍认知语言学研究的重要概念和原则，第二部分是关于词汇语义学的认知研究，其指导思想是语义是动态识解的结果，第三部分是关于语法的认知研究，是以“语言知识来源于语言使用”的假设为指导思想的研究。
本书的结构条理清晰，各部分之间以及各章节之间论述的主题以层层递进的方式展开。王要內容是由两条主线贯穿的：(1)将语义研究和语用研究相结合，探讨意义在人脑中的构建过程。(2)句法和词法是不可分的，词素、词和句法构成象征系统的连续体。

List offigures
List of tables
Preface
1 Introduction：what is cognitive linguistics?
Part Ⅰ A conceptual approach to linguistic analysis
2 Frames，domains，spaces：the organization of conceptual structure
2.1 Arguments for frame semantics
2.2 Concepts：profile.flame organization
2.3 Some consequences of the profile.frame／domain distinction
2.4 Extensions of the basic profile.frame~omain distinction
2.4.l Locational and configurational profiles
2.4.2 Scope of predication
2.4.3 Relationships between domains
2.5 Domains and idealized cognitive models
2.6 Mentalspaces
3 Conceptualization and construal operations
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Altention／sanenCe
3.2.1 Selection
3.2.2 Scope of attention(dominion)
3.2.3 Scalar adiustment
3.2.4 Dynamic attention
3.3 Judgement／comparison
3.3.1 Categorization
3.3.2 Metaphor
3.3.3 Figure.ground alignment
3.4 Perspective／situatedness
3.4.1 Viewpoint
3.4.2 Deixis
3.4.3 subiectivity
3.5 Constitution／Ge~qalt
3.5.1 Structural schematization
3.5.2 ForCc dynamics
3.5.3 Relationality(enfity／interconnection)
3.6 C'onclusion
4 Categories.concepts and meanings
4.1 Inlroduction
4.2 The classical model of category structure
4.3 the prototype model ef category structure
4.3.1 Graded centrality
4.3.2 Thc representation c f conceptual categories
4.3.3 Levels of categorization
4.3.4 Shortcomings of prototype theory
4.3.5 The frame--ba,,ed account of prototype effects
4.4 A dynamic construal approach 10 conceptual categories
4.4.1 Category boundaries
4.4.2 Frames
4.4.3 Levels c f categorization
4.5 Thc dynamic construal c f meaning
4.5.1 Contextualized interpretaion
4.5.2 Purport
4.5.3 Constraints
4.5.4 Cons[mal
4.6 Structural and logical aspecl s of meaning
4.7 Part I：Concluding remarks
Part Ⅱ：Cognitive approaches Io lexical semantics
5 Polysemy：the construal of sense boundark s
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Full sense boundaries
5.2.1 Homonymy and polysemy
5.2.2 Entrenchment
5.2.3 Bc undare ffec ts
5.2.4 Thc nalure of full sense units
5.3 Sub-sense units with Eear-sense properties
5.3.1 Rmets
5.3.2 Microsenses
5.3.3 Ways.of-seeing
5.3.4 Semantic components and lCW-autonomy actwe zones
……
6 A dynamic construal approach to sense relations Ⅰ：hyponymy and meronymy
7 A dynamic construal approach to sense relations Ⅱ：antonymy and complementarity
8 Metaphor
Part Ⅲ:Cognitive approaches to grammatical form