ABSTRACT
This chapter connects the formal and typological generalizations to the underlying cognitive principles and constraints formulated for semantic phenomena within and across languages. A number of cognitive principles and constraints that can systematize and also simplify typological generalizations framed in formal-cognitive terms are formulated with further psycholinguistic and cognitive evidence provided. It may also be hoped that this will help reveal the limits of the biological basis of language variation. Thus, this chapter explores the implications of the new insights gained from Chapters 4 and 5. Importantly, interesting generalizations can be drawn from a unified system of semantic representations precisely because they coincide with the basic organization of grammars. For example, three major systems of propositional acts are located in clause structures. They are propositional acts of reference, modification and predication. These are also readily used as comparative concepts for typological research. Then this chapter offers further insights into semantic variation with respect to the domains of reference, modification and predication vis-à-vis the unified system of semantic representations.
