A Study On Acquisition Of English Phrasal Verbs Based On Conceptual Metaphor Theory

When a person learns a language, he or she can not learn it without vocabulary. Vocabulary learning has been the heart of language learning and the most essential part. English phrasal verbs play an important role in English vocabulary. Therefore, the learning of English phrasal verbs is significant to language learning. Generally speaking, phrasal verbs are defined as combinations of verbs and particles. Due to the frequency of use and the strength of combination of phrasal verbs, the meanings of most phrasal verbs are not the simple combination of meanings of the two components. It becomes an obstacle for students to learn them.Many scholars abroad and at home are still trying to explore some effective learning methods for students or English learners. The present study aims to examine the effectiveness of learning phrasal verbs by focusing on particles on the basis of Conceptual Metaphor Theory so as to provide an effective learning method to acquire phrasal verbs.The present research is conducted from quantitative and qualitative aspects including two tests and one questionnaire to test whether this learning method is effective to learn phrasal verbs or not. The subjects are sophomore from non-English majors at Yan'an University. They are from two intact classes with the same average phrasal verb proficiency. The subjects learn the same phrasal verbs with different learning methods. The data are collected by tests and questionnaire and analyzed by software SPSS 17.0.The results of the present study show that focusing on particles based on Conceptual Metaphor Theory is effective to learn phrasal verbs. By the data of questionnaire, students in experimental group hold positive attitudes towards this learning method. The present study reveals that conceptual metaphor can be used to explain and understand the meanings of particles. It is helpful and useful to understand and learn phrasal verbs and to predict the meaning of new phrasal verbs. The findings of the present research provide some effective methods for the learning of phrasal verbs and give some inspiration for the learning and teaching of phrasal verbs.