Ontolinguistics

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Current progress in linguistic theorizing increasingly relies on cross-linguistic and cross-modal investigations. Comparing languages depends on concepts that can be similarly coded across all languages, forming part of every language user's ontology—the interconnected conceptualizations that help individuals navigate the world. This volume aims to advance linguistics by examining how ontological structures are reflected in both intra- and cross-linguistic regularities, a focus that defines the research program of ontology-based linguistics, or ontolinguistics. Recent developments in language theory emphasize external explanatory adequacy, linking language to various phenomena. The research program presented here introduces a novel perspective by integrating insights from linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, and artificial intelligence. This interdisciplinary approach aims to explore the influence of ontological structures on linguistic regularities, positioning ontolinguistics as a promising branch of cognitive science. By documenting the initial stages of this exploration, the volume seeks to inspire future interdisciplinary research, appealing to scholars in linguistics, artificial intelligence, philosophy, and cognitive science.