Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 11. Number4 December 2020 Pp.223-235
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no4.15
A Cognitive Linguistics Study of the Conceptual Derivation of Word Meaning
Raghad Fahmi Aajami
Department of English, College of Education for Women
University of Baghdad
Baghdad, Iraq
Abstract:
To maintain understanding, usage, and interrelations of English vocabularies by Iraqi second language learners (L2) is a challenging mission. In the current study, the cognitive linguistic theory of domains by Langacker (1987) is adopted to provide new horizons in learning vocabulary and qualify Iraqi students with a deep knowledge analysis of the meanings of lexical concepts. This paper aims to test the validity of expanding the English language vocabulary for second language learners from Iraq through domains theory. It also attempts to find how the domains theory supports L2 learners in identifying meanings related to lexical concepts. Accordingly, an experimental study is conducted on fifty-eight university students of the second year level from the University of Baghdad, Iraq. The pre and post-tests are analyzed by using the Editor for the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results show the following: First, a progression of more than (0.05≤) is discovered in terms of students’ understanding of the interrelationships between lexical concepts. Second, a new vision is dealt with to connect lexical concepts with their meanings according to the focus of the speakers using Langacker’s theory. Third, domains theory (profile/ base organization, active zone, and the perceptual basis for knowledge representation) has proven effective in expanding Iraqi students’ treatment and perception of semantic domains of English lexical concepts precisely.
Keywords: Cognitive semantics, domains, Iraqi Learners, encyclopedic view of meaning, active zone, knowledge representation.
Cite as: Aajami, R. F. (2020). A Cognitive Linguistics Study of the Conceptual Derivation of Word Meaning Arab World English Journal, 11 (4) .
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no4.15
References
Aajami, R.F. (2019). A Cognitive Semantic Analysis of Meaning Interrelationship. World English Journal AWEJ, 10. (1): 116 – 126.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol10no1.11
Barsalou, L.W. (1999). Perceptual symbol systems. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. 22(4):577-609. DOI:10.1017/s0140525x99002149
Bedny, M., Hulbert, J.C. & Thompson-Schill, S.L.(2006). Understanding words in context: the role of Broca’s area in word comprehension. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. DOI:10.1016/j.brainres.2006.10.012
Bolger, D.J., Balass, M., Landen, E,& Perfetti C.A. (2008) Contextual variation and definitions in learning the meaning of words. Discourse Processes. 45:122–159.
Clausner, T.C. & Croft, W. (1999). Domains and Image Schemas. Cognitive linguistics, 10, (1), 1-31.
Ebert, R. (2005). War of the worlds movie review. Retrieved 9 Sep 2020
Elgort, I,. Charles, A. Perfetti, B. R,. & Joseph Z. Stafura, Z. J (2014). Contextual learning of L2 word meanings: Second language proficiency modulates behavioural and ERP indicators of learning.
Language, Cognition and Neuroscience. 30, (5) DOI: 10.1080/23273798.2014.942673
Evans, V. & Green, M. (2006). Cognitive Linguistics An Introduction. Edinburgh University Press.
Evans, V. (2006). Lexical Concepts, Cognitive Models and Meaning-Construction. Cognitive Linguistics. Walter de Gruyter, 17(4). DOI:10.1515/COG.2006.016.
Hagoort, P. (2019). The meaning-making mechanism(s) behind the eyes and between the ears. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. Volume 3; 375(1791). DOI:10.1098/rstb.2019.0301
Haiman, John (1980). “Dictionaries and encyclopaedias”. Lingua, 50. 377-88
Hendriks, P. (2019). The acquisition of compositional meaning. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. 3;375(1791). DOI:10.1098/rstb.2019.0312
Hintzman,D. L.(1986). “Schema abstraction” in a multiple-trace memory model. Psychological Review. 93:411–428
Google, Images. (2020). Goalkeeper Cartoon. Retrieved 9 Sep 2020
Kazemifard, M., Ghasem- Aghaee, N., & Ören, T. I. (2012). Emotive and cognitive simulations by agents: Roles of three levels of information processing. Cognitive Systems Research, 13(1), p. 24 -38.
Kecskes, I. (2013). Encyclopedic Knowledge, Cultural Models, and Interculturality. In book: Intercultural Pragmatics, p.81-104. DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199892655.003.0005.
Langacker, R. (1987). Foundations of Cognitive Grammar Theorical Prerequest. Standford: Standford University University.
Lowe, I. (2008). Domain Theory of Language. SIL International, 1-43. <http://www.gial.edu/GIALens/issues.htm>.
Nasser, S.M. (2020). A Cognitive-Semantic Analysis of Preposition on: An Experimental Study at University of Baghdad . Arab World English Journal, 11. (3): 493 -501. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no3.32
Reichle, E.D.& Perfetti C.A. (2003). Morphology in word identification: A word experience model that accounts for morpheme frequency effects. Scientific Studies of Reading. (7) 219–237.
Taylor, R. John (2018). Ten Lectures on Applied Cognitive Linguistics: The Encyclopedic Scope of Semantics. BRILL. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3916474.v1