Introduction: converging data sources in cognitive linguistics

The aim of the paper is to outline the topic of the present special issue. In the first section, the authors give a concise overview of current discussions on the structure and function of linguistic data and evidence in general. They argue that one of the main insights which the discussions led to is the need to integrate different data sources in linguistic theorising. The second section deals with the specific manifestation of these discussions in cognitive linguistics. The authors raise the questions which the papers in the special issue address with respect to cognitive linguistics: What data sources can be integrated? How can different data sources be integrated? How does the integration of different data sources affect the acceptability of hypotheses? Finally, in the last section, the structure of the special issue is summarised.

► Current methodological debates centre on the nature of linguistic data.
► In cognitive linguistics there is a need to integrate different data sources.
► The problem is how their convergence affects the acceptability of hypotheses.
► The papers in this special issue discuss possible solutions to this problem.