GENERATIVE AND COGNITIVE LINGUISTICS IN CONTEMPORARY LANGUAGE STUDIES: A CRITICAL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

This study presents a systematic review of two influential paradigms in modern linguistics: Cognitive Linguistics and Generative Linguistics. The study aims to critically compare their theoretical assumptions, methodologies, and applications in explaining language structure and use. The review covers major foundational theories alongside recent research published between 2020 and 2025. A qualitative methodology was employed, involving the analysis of more than twelve peer-reviewed research articles selected from databases such as Google Scholar, JSTOR, and Science Direct. The findings Indicate that Generative Linguistics conceptualizes language as an innate, rule-governed system grounded in Universal Grammar (Chomsky, 1965; Berwick & Chomsky, 2016), whereas Cognitive Linguistics views language as a product of general cognitive processes shaped by usage and experience (Langacker, 2008; Evans & Green, 2006). While the generative approach provides precise formal models of syntax, the cognitive approach offers greater explanatory power regarding meaning, context, and real-world language use (Goldberg, 2020; Dąbrowska, 2022). The study concludes that neither framework alone fully accounts for the complexity of human language. Instead, recent research increasingly supports integrative approaches that combine structural rigor with cognitive realism (Rastelli, 2024).