<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This paper investigates the nature of creativity in language and linguistics. Following Sampson (2016), it distinguishes between F-creativity (which roughly equals linguistic productivity) and E-creativity (which leads to new and unexpected innovations). These two notions of creativity are discussed on the basis of examples from three different domains: snow cloning, mismatch/coercion, and aberration. It is shown that pure E-creativity may only be found in the case of aberration. Both snow cloning and mismatch/coercion are examples for F-creativity, but to varying degrees. As a consequence, it is suggested that in practice, F- and E-creativity actually form a cline, rather than a dichotomy.</p></abstract>

This paper investigates the nature of creativity in language and linguistics. Following Sampson (2016), it distinguishes between F-creativity (which roughly equals linguistic productivity) and E-creativity (which leads to new and unexpected innovations). These two notions of creativity are discussed on the basis of examples from three different domains: snow cloning, mismatch/coercion, and aberration. It is shown that pure E-creativity may only be found in the case of aberration. Both snow cloning and mismatch/coercion are examples for F-creativity, but to varying degrees. As a consequence, it is suggested that in practice, F- and E-creativity actually form a cline, rather than a dichotomy.

What, If Anything, Is Linguistic Creativity?

Gestalt Theory

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"What, If Anything, Is Linguistic Creativity?"}

This paper investigates the nature of creativity in language and linguistics. Following Sampson (2016), it distinguishes between F-creativity (which roughly...

What, If Anything, Is Linguistic Creativity?

Published Online: Jul 25, 2019

Page range: 173 - 183

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gth-2019-0017

Keywords
Cognitive linguistics, creativity, coercion, snow clones, metaphor, linguistic rules, cognitive poetics

© 2019 Alexander Bergs, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

What, If Anything, Is Linguistic Creativity?

Published Online: Jul 25, 2019

Page range: 173 - 183

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gth-2019-0017

KeywordsCognitive linguistics, creativity, coercion, snow clones, metaphor, linguistic rules, cognitive poetics

© 2019 Alexander Bergs, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Cognitive linguistics, creativity, coercion, snow clones, metaphor, linguistic rules, cognitive poetics