This collection investigates the validity and theoretical implications of Construction Grammar as a primary framework for understanding linguistic structure. The editors, Masayoshi Shibatani and Sandra A. Thompson, curate a series of essays from distinguished linguists who challenge the modular Chomskyan perspective. By positioning grammatical constructions as fundamental units rather than epiphenomena, the text argues that linguistic meaning emerges from the intricate interplay between lexicon, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.

Experts recognize this volume as a significant contribution to the development of Construction Grammar following the foundational work of Fillmore and Kay. Scholars frequently cite the text for its rigorous academic density and its role in establishing the theoretical parameters of non-modular linguistic analysis.