Adopting Cognitive Linguistics in Selecting the Prepositions 'Among, Beneath and Through' in the English Language
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31185/wjfh.Vol22.Iss1.1423Keywords:
Cognitive linguistics, English prepositions, Iraqi Learners, Spatial relations.Abstract
Mastering English language requires a lot of efforts. One of these efforts is the application of cognitive linguistics that studies language depending on its relation to human experiences. This study aims to improve the Iraqi learners’ capacity in analyzing and using English prepositions in spite of their polysemantic nature via cognitive linguistic (CL) approach. Tyler and Evans’ (2003) Principled Polysemy Model is adopted for analyzing the data. Accordingly, 90 participants from the Department of English, second year, University of Baghdad have been the sample for the study. A group of prepositions have been selected to be studied via CL approach. A mixed method approach has been relied upon to collect the data using observations, focus group discussion sessions and tests. The results not only have confirmed the CL approach effectiveness in explaining the multi-meanings of prepositions and their relations, but also approved CL flexibility and accuracy.
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