Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Its Cognitive-Linguistic Relationship: Uncharted Territories in Language Processing

Abstract

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) originated in the 1970s as a conceptual model aimed at decoding the complex interplay between brain function, language, and human behavior (Bandler & Grinder, 1975, p. 6). Despite its widespread application in areas such as therapy and self-development (Bandler & Grinder, 1982, p. 21), the theoretical foundations and its significance within cognitive linguistics have not been thoroughly examined (Beck & Weishaar, 2004, p. 37; Johnson & Lakoff, 1980, p. 13). This research offers a critical examination of NLP’s cognitive aspects by delving into its core principles and their alignment with cognitive linguistic theories (Langacker, 2008, p. 5; Fodor, 1983, p. 101). Incorporating diverse theoretical insights and empirical findings, the study investigates NLP’s potential contributions to the understanding of language learning, mental processing, and linguistic behavior (Lantolf, 2000, p. 28; Goldberg, 2006, p. 11). In doing so, it brings attention to a domain frequently overlooked in both linguistic and psychological scholarship (McNeil, 2010, p. 73; Goldstein, 2010, p. 59).