Complementarity of the Relational Network Theory and Conceptual Blending

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Komplementarność teorii sieci relacyjnych i teorii amalgamatówThe article aims to show that Lamb’s Relational Network Theory (RNT) (1999) is compatible with Fauconnier and Turner’s Conceptual Network Theory (CNT) (1998) and that the theories may complement each other in the analysis of language-related operations. The article presents main assumptions of both theories and describes a stratificational model of language developed by Sydney Lamb. According to Lamb, language constitutes a network of relationships which shares a number of similarities with the neural network of the human brain. Parts of the linguistic network are activated by linguistic input and brought to light by Fauconnier’s mental spaces. Additionally, the author of the article emphasises that the process of integration operates at various linguistic levels and is crucial for proper structuring of linguisticelements, which is evident from the analysis of verbal blunders.