Person-oriented linguistic research

This chapter introduces a ‘person-oriented’ approach to the study of language that focuses attention on the language use of the individual, as opposed to the collective, and the role that an individual’s personal experience (life history, life style, personal preferences, etc.) plays in influencing their language use. The person-oriented approach is illustrated through a selection of examples from var-ious sub-fields of linguistics, including language acquisition, sociolinguistics, stylistics, grammar, historical linguistics, and metaphor research. The chapter is intended as an encouragement to cogni-tively minded linguists to consider adopting a more situated view of language whereby specific in-dividuals and their lived experiences take centre stage.