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An important but under-appreciated aspect of grammar is the extent of the integration a grammatical construction specifies among its constitutive elements. Besides its vital role in synchronic grammar, this essential aspect of constructional meaning is a pivotal factor in grammaticization. These points will be illustrated through a variety of construction types drawn from a number of diverse languages, with special emphasis on serial verb constructions. 1. Preface I shall be discussing an essential aspect of grammatical constructions, namely the nature and extent of the conceptual integration a construction effects between its component elements. Conceptual integration is an important part of constructional meaning. It proves to be crucial for understanding grammar, from both the synchronic and diachronic standpoints. Yet the problem never even arises in theoretical frameworks which claim the autonomy of syntax vis-à-vis semantics, or which fail to recognize the conceptual basis of linguistic meaning. Despite its fundamental character, it is therefore largely absent from contemporary theoretical discussion. By contrast, the theory of Cognitive Grammar (CG) adopts a conceptual view of meaning and claims that grammar is inherently meaningful. The conceptual integration effected by grammatical constructions thus emerges as a central issue that needs to be dealt with explicitly. As a foundation for doing so, I must start by briefly reviewing some basic ideas, descriptive constructs, and notations of the CG framework.