Entrenchment and the Psychology of Language Learning

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In recent years, linguists have increasingly engaged with cognitive sciences to explore the roots and evolution of language. The rise of cognitive-linguistic, usage-based, and complex-adaptive models has led to the integration of insights from cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, and social psychology. A significant outcome of this interdisciplinary approach is the concept of entrenchment, which refers to the ongoing reorganization and adaptation of communicative knowledge influenced by social interactions. This concept suggests that our linguistic knowledge is continually refreshed and reorganized, shaped by language exposure and cognitive processes. The volume features contributions from over two dozen experts across linguistics, psycholinguistics, neurology, and cognitive psychology, offering a comprehensive view of the psychological and linguistic foundations of language. Contributors delve into the psychological aspects of linguistic entrenchment, its role in first-language acquisition, second language learning, and language attrition. Additionally, critical perspectives on entrenchment and its implications are examined through the lenses of dynamic complexity theory and radical embodied cognitive science.