Meanings of the english prepositions over above under below in terms of cognitive semantics perspective

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY - HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGE & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES ***************** NGUYỄN TUYẾT NHUNG MEANINGS OF THE ENGLISH PREPOSITIONS “OVER, ABOVE, UNDER, BELOW” IN TERMS OF COGNITIVE SEMANTICS PERSPECTIVE (Các Nét Nghĩa Của Các Giới Từ “Over, Above, Under, Below” Dưới Góc Độ Ngữ Nghĩa Học Tri Nhận) M.A MINOR THESIS Major: English Linguistics Code: 60 22 15 HÀ NỘI, 2010 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY - HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGE & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES ***************** NGUYỄN TUYẾT NHUNG MEANINGS OF THE ENGLISH PREPOSITIONS “OVER, ABOVE, UNDER, BELOW” IN TERMS OF COGNITIVE SEMANTICS PERSPECTIVE (Các Nét Nghĩa Của Các Giới Từ “Over, Above, Under, Below” Dưới Góc Độ Ngữ Nghĩa Học Tri Nhận) M.A MINOR THESIS Major: English Linguistics Code: 60 22 15 Supervisor: Dr Hà Cẩm Tâm HÀ NỘI, 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ii Abstract iii Table of contents iv PART I: INTRODUCTION Rationale Aims of the study Scope of the study Research question Design of the study PART II: DEVELOPMENT Chapter 1: Theoretical Background 1.1 An overview of Cognitive Linguistics and Cognitive Semantics 1.2 Spatial Prepositions and Semantic Perspectives on Spatial Prepositions 1.3 Spatial domain and dimensionality 1.4 Spatial characteristics of Trajectors and Landmarks 1.5 Categorization and semantic structure 1.5.1 Image schemas 1.5.2 Prototype theory and Radial network 10 1.5.3 The relevance of semantic factors 11 II.5 Metaphor and Spatial Prepositions 12 Chapter 2: The Study 2.1 Research question 15 2.2 Data Collection 15 2.3 Analytical Framework 15 2.4 Data Analysis and Discussions 2.4.1 Spatial senses 2.4.1.1 Above 18 18 2.4.1.2 Over 19 2.5.1.3 Below 22 2.5.1.4 Under 23 2.4.2 Non-spatial senses 25 2.5.2.1 Above 25 2.5.2.2 Over 27 2.5.2.3 Below 30 2.5.2.4 Under 30 PART III: CONCLUSION 3.1 Conclusion 35 3.2 Pedagogical Implications 36 Limitations of the Research and Suggestions for Further Research 37 REFERENCES 38 ... UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGE & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES ***************** NGUYỄN TUYẾT NHUNG MEANINGS OF THE ENGLISH PREPOSITIONS ? ?OVER, ABOVE, UNDER, BELOW? ?? IN TERMS OF COGNITIVE. .. Chapter 1: Theoretical Background 1.1 An overview of Cognitive Linguistics and Cognitive Semantics 1.2 Spatial Prepositions and Semantic Perspectives on Spatial Prepositions 1.3 Spatial domain and... IN TERMS OF COGNITIVE SEMANTICS PERSPECTIVE (Các Nét Nghĩa Của Các Giới Từ ? ?Over, Above, Under, Below? ?? Dưới Góc Độ Ngữ Nghĩa Học Tri Nhận) M.A MINOR THESIS Major: English Linguistics Code: 60 22