Gilles Fauconnier () (19 August 1944 – 3 February 2021) was a French linguist, researcher in cognitive science, and author, who worked in the U.S. He was distinguished professor at the University of California, San Diego, in the Department of Cognitive Science. His work with Mark Turner founded the theory of conceptual blending. His books include: The Way We Think: Conceptual Blending and the Mind's Hidden Complexities (with Mark Turner) (2003) Conceptual Integration Networks (with Mark Turner) (1998) Mappings in Thought and Language (1997) Mental Spaces: Aspects of Meaning Construction in Natural Language (1994) See also Cognitive science Conceptual blending References External links Papers by Gilles Fauconnier 1944 births 2021 deaths French cognitive scientists French science writers University of California, San Diego faculty Linguists from France Metaphor theorists French male writers