Abstract

Converging and interacting developments in the disciplines of psychology, linguistics and artificial intelligence have brought about the emergence of the interdisciplinary field of cognitive science. The increasing ascendency of the information processing approach to experimental psychology and psycholinguistics is reflected in the evolution of thought about human memory, attention and discourse processing. Linguistic theorists have given ever more attention to semantic and pragmatic matters. In artificial intelligence, the goal of constructing “intelligent” machines has been combined with a growing theoretical interest in the structure of intelligent performances, whether carried out by humans or machines. After tracing these developments, the essay outlines some major research programs and key issues in cognitive science, especially in the areas of cognitive representation and discourse processing. The fundamental assumptions of cognitive science have generated considerable controversy, which is described. It is suggested, in conclusion, that cognitive science and communicology have much to offer each other.

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