Students Of Native Chinese Speakers Of English Spatial Prepositions Acquisition

On first-hand field materials in Hebei Polytechnic University, the thesis researches English spatial preposition learning, which offers case study to English learning, English teaching and spatial categorization study.The thesis is composed of three parts:introduction, body (chapter one to chapter three) and conclusion.Introduction reviews the English spatial proposition study abroad and at home. It also points out the research content, research methodology and research significance of the thesis.Chapter one describes the semantic network for "in", "on", "over", "above", "under" and "below" on cognitive linguistic theory.Words "on" and "over", "above" are all similar to Chinese "shang", because all the three words'proto-scenes include the conceptual spatial-functional relation of the trajectory (TR) is higher than the landmark (LM). There are also some differences among them. The word "on" emphasizes the TR is supported by the LM, while the word "over" emphasizes the TR is within a region of potential contact with the LM and the word "above" an unbridgeable distance between the TR and the LM.Words "under" and "below" are similar to Chinese "xia", because both proto-scenes include the spatial-functional relation of the LM is higher than the TR. The word "under" prompts for conceptualizations in which the TR is proximal to, and hence in potential contact with, the LM; while "below" denotes a conceptual spatial-functional relation in which there is no possibility of contact between the TR and the LM.The word "in" is similar to Chinese "nei" or "zhong". Its proto-scene constitutes a special relation in which a TR is located within a LM which has three salient structural elements (an interior, a boundary and an exterior). In addition to spatial relation designated, the proto-scene for "in" is associated with the functional element of containment.Chapter two investigates the English spatial preposition learning. It finds that 37.5% subjects can fill in the answers with the suitable spatial prepositions for each question. Among those prepositions, the word "in" is mastered the best (58.0% subjects fill in the answer with "in" if it is needed) and the word "over" the worst (17.5% subjects fill in the answer with "over" if it is needed). As to other prepositions, "on" (48.7%) is better than "under" (27.5%), which is better than "above" (24.0%), which is better than "below" (23.2%).Among those prepositional senses, the proto-scene, temporal sense and idioms of "in" and "on" are mastered best; "over" (including focus-of-attention sense, covering sense, control sense, above-and-beyond sense) and "under" (cover sense) are mastered the worst. In addition, the subjects usually say "in one's mind" rather than "on one's mind".On the investigation result, the thesis refers that the English learners don't build the same cognitive models as English native speakers do. They consider "on" "over" and "above" as one category (similar with Chinese "shang"), in which "on" is the prototype; "under" and "below" as one category (similar with Chinese "xia"), in which "under" is the prototype. When talking about those categories, the subjects use "on" or "under" more frequently.Chapter three discusses the factors which affect English spatial preposition learning. The thesis finds that there is no fossilization at the research step in preposition learning and those factors such as the subjects'sex and major don't affect preposition learning. The faintness of the syllabus, the lack of English learning environment and the unsuitable goals to English word learning are factors which lead to a low quality of preposition learning. Usually, the subjects who master English spatial preposition well are more active, more confident, more interested in English learning. In addition, they have stronger motivation to English leaning and they are willing to spend more time on it.The last part of the thesis concludes the research, gives suggestions on preposition learning and points out the weakness. It also expects the spatial proposition learning research in the future.