A Comparative Study Of Lexical Gaps From Cognitive Perspective

Lexical gaps have always been an obstacle in cross-cultural communication. Many professional works have been devoted to the causes of lexical gaps, however, they are mainly approaching this issue from a comparatively superficial way, and few insights have been given to the cognitive perspective. Besides, few works are dedicated to lexical gaps, for lexical gaps in resent works are bound to translation techniques or foreign language teaching in which the illustration of lexical gaps is only a prelude. To make an insight into the causes of lexical gaps from a cognitive view, this thesis tries to present an integrated picture of lexical gaps, from definition to categorization till causation.Chapterâ… serves as a general introduction of lexical gaps, including the imperfection of previous study and the breakthrough this thesis made:a dedicated study on lexical gaps and a cognitive explanation of lexical gaps.In Chapterâ…¡the definition and classification of lexical gaps is given from two aspects: lexical gaps within one language (LGwithin) and lexical gaps between languages(LGbetween). Lexical gap is originally a term in semantics for research within one language, and then it has been introduced into translation field. Many researchers have given their definitions of lexical gaps between languages and based on which we give a new one. The classification given in this thesis is also based on the previous study. The classification of LGwithin is explored in proportional series, hierarchies and opposites proposed by Cruse. LGbetween in this thesis is classified into Proper lexical gap which is subcategorized into concept vacancy and expression vacancy, and Semi-lexical gap which is subcategorized into denotation divergence and connotation divergence.Some scholars think that lexical gaps are closely related to culture. Chapterâ…¢gives the traditional explanation of lexical gaps from geography, religion, custom, social values, color connotation, animal expression, allusions and linguistic mechanism.Chapterâ…£serves as the most important part of the thesis, which explores the causes of lexical gaps from cognitive perspective. Some fundamental theories of cognitive linguistics are reviewed firstly in the beginning of this chapter, including the philosophical base: experientialism or embodied realism, and theory of prototype category, theory of basic level category, metaphor and iconicity. In the second part, the explanation of lexical gaps from cognitive perspective is given. The elaboration of cognitive causes of lexical gaps within one language employs the theory of psychological salience, perceptual salience and prototype. The analysis of lexical gaps between languages is from two aspects, the conceptual vacancy and conceptual variation. Chapterâ…¤is the conclusion of the thesis.This thesis attempts to establish a preliminary work for more systematic study of lexical gaps, and expects amends continuously.