The Corpus-Based Analysis Of The Construction "V.+at" In English According To The Trajector-Landmark Theory

In cognitive linguistics,the spatial concepts are regarded as the basis of human cognition,and the studies of Spatial Metaphor are the mainstream in interpreting the ion of concepts.Other than the studies of Spatial Metaphor that draws on the metaphorical mapping,Langacker pours his attention into the description of semantic structures to elucidate the imagery and the process of conceptualization.Based upon his viewpoint,this thesis attempts to analyze and explore the cognitive reasoning for the semantic distribution of a prepositional construction with the Trajector-Landmark Theory.Generally,the corpus-based study aims to analyze the semantic distribution of the construction "V.+at" as well as the grammaticalization of at within it.The general form of the construction is assumed to be "Process+PATH+Relation(association/inclusion)".After collecting and classifying data in two Brown family corpora,CLOB and Crown,the processes are categorized into eight types:LOOK,BE,MOVE,LAUGH,SPEAK,POINT,DO and OTHER,which distribute mainly in the common organic senses and usual body movements.Furthermore,the semantic distribution of the construction "V.+at" is elaborately analyzed in each category and the cognitive reasoning for the relation between the trajector and landmark is sought as well.On the strength of the empirical evidence sought in the corpora,the general form proves to be reasonable.Moreover,in all the categories except BE,the imagery of the construction is as this:the trajector moves towards the landmark spatially,but the movement ends up when they begin to relate.In those categories,the relational predication at within the construction appears to play the role of putting an end to the movement,and displays the relation of association between the trajector and landmark.However,within the category of BE,at presents the relation of both association and inclusion.The above analyses are about the grammaticalization of at within the construction "V.+at".In conclusion,the Trajector-Landmark Theory is practicable in explicating the semantic distribution of a prepositional construction.Hence,the study hopes to offer an inspiring,and even helpful reference for lexicology and lexicography and also for the teaching of the construction "V.+Prep." in English.