Cognitive Meaning Construction And English Vocabulary Acquisition

Cognitive linguistics is a borderline subject integrated by cognitive psychology and linguistics. It is a new approach to language that is based on our experience of the world and the way we perceive and conceptualize, providing essential interpretation for meaning construction. Cognitive linguistics emphasizes the meaning of a word is not static but dynamic, therefore is realized by the integration of encyclopedic background knowledge, specific context and individual experience. Dictionary meanings are not real meanings, just function as background information. Word meanings should be acquired in specific context.On the bases of prototypical category, cognitive models, cultural models and frame theory, this thesis focuses on conducting deep cognitive processing to improve words memorizing; analying cognitive meaning construction of synonyms and polysemous words to understand and produce words efficiently; making use of frames to activate old words in specific contexts to understand and recall new words.Through comparison of traditional vocabulary teaching and learning with cognitive approach, it is found that the cognitive meaning processing at deep level is crucial to understand, memorize and produce words. It's necessary for learners to have cognitive awareness to facilitate English vocabulary acquisition.