A Study On The Construction Of Semantic Representation Continuum For English VSRP

Preposition is considered to be one of the basic skeletons of English sentences.The role of a preposition in the language structure is to connect the different components of a sentence;the function of a preposition in the content is to pilot us to grasp the relationship between things in time and space.In our daily life,preposition is not only used to express the relationship between things,but also very flexible in usages and its meaning is widely changeable,which form the major barriers in the acquisition of languages.The polysemous phenomena of prepositions are mainly projected from one cognitive domains to another cognitive domains,namely from spatial cognitive domains to other cognitive domains like temporal domains or social domains,by way of cognitive means such as prototype category theory,conceptual metaphor and metonymy.This thesis analyzes the prepositional polysemy of over,above,under and below in vertical space from the cognitive perspective.Based on the prototypical meanings,the meaning is extended through prototype category theory and other cognitive mechanisms like conceptual metaphor or metonymy,and then each polysemous semantic network takes it shape,finally we can construct the semantic representation continuum of English vertical spatial prepositions.This thesis consists of six parts.Its outline is as followed: Chapter One introduces the background,theories,methods,findings,and significance of this study.Chapter Two is literature review,which summarizes the achievements and limitations of foreign and domestic studies on prepositional polysemy and their enlightenment for this study from different perspectives.Chapter Three is theoretical basis,which focuses on prototype theory and categorization,conceptual metaphor and metonymy.The fourth chapter is the main part and core of this thesis,which constructs the semantic network of preposition over firstly.First,we classify the prototype meaning and prototypical image schema of over in preposition systems,and then reveals the spatial meaning and non spatial meaning of prepositional over,finally establish a polysemous network of over.Secondly,the thesis explores the polysemy of VSRP.Such as above,under,and below in the same way.Finally,in the fourth chapter,an integrated vertical spatial relationship prepositional continuum is set up based on the four semantic networks above so that we can distinguish the spatial range of the four prepositions.The fifth chapter,as an application part,the polysemy in VSRP discusses the problems of the polysemy in VSRP in the current English teaching and illustrates the significance and implications of the construction of semantic representation continuum in English language teaching and learning.Finally,we concludes the findings of this thesis and points out the contributions,shortcomings and future improvement of this thesis.In this paper,the following findings are digged out through the study of the multi-dimensional VSRP :1.This paper attempts to analyze the scope of semantic representation and rules of vertical spatial prepositions systematically by using the basic viewpoints and models of prototypical theory,conceptual metaphor and conceptual metonymy theory.2.This paper constructs the semantic network of each VSRP.The typical and nontypical meanings of each preposition are clarified preliminarily.It enables language learners to understand the corresponding relationship between the dynamic change of the vertical positional relationship of objects in the real world and the appropriate choice of VSRP.3.On the basis of establishing semantic network of each VSRP one by one,this paper constructs the whole semantic representation continuum of the four VSRP finally.The subtle semantic distinction of VSRP with similar meanings and the phenomenon of semantic overlappings in different VSRP are analyzed in detail.4.The findings of this research are of great significance to the teaching and learning of foreign language prepositions.For the reason that in the process of understanding and producing language,it is difficult to anchor the meanings of nouns or even verbs without accurately understanding and usages of spatial prepositions,which will affect the comprehension and output of sentences and texts ultimately.The construction of semantic representation continuum of VSRP can help English learners absorb the VSRP effectively.On one hand,this study can provide an effective method for the acquisition of the semantic representation of English vertical space prepositions.It can help students understand the spatial scope of the vertical spatial relationship prepositions and comprehend the usage of the four preposition over,above,under,and below so that students can better apply these four vertical spaces.On the other hand,constructing the semantic representation of the vertical space provides a new idea for the explanation of the preposition in foreign language teaching and learning.It can make students understand the four vertical space prepositions more vividly through the image schema,and use these four vertical space prepositions more accurately.This paper abbreviates the vertical spatial relational preposition to VSRP for the convenience of the following discussion.