Emotions do enter grammar because grammar is meaningful

Abstract

In this discussion note on the focus paper by Martina Wiltschko, entitled ‘Emotions do not enter grammar because they are constructed (by grammar)’, six theses are selected for discussion. I agree in general terms with Wiltschko’s claims that emotions are constructed, that emotion words are folk-psychological, and that there are no dedicated grammatical categories for expressing emotions. However, I find Wiltschko’s core claims that emotions do not enter grammar, because they are constructed by grammar and because they are constructed by the same cognitive architecture that generates complex linguistic expressions, to be overstated and problematic. After discussing Wiltschko’s understanding of the basic notions of grammar, meaning, and emotion, I argue that: (i) emotions do enter grammar, albeit in less fixed, secondary, and more flexible ways; (ii) grammar plays an efficient constructional role in emotional meaning-making, through dynamic sets of form-meaning pairings; and (iii) emotions enter grammar and grammar perspectivally constructs emotions, through cognitive abilities such as construal, (inter)subjectification, and figurativity.