Understanding English Prepositions through Cognitive Semantics

This research aims at investigating how English prepositions are understood through the cognitive-semantic approach. It focuses on the three key concepts: prototype theory, conceptual metaphors, and image schemas. The prototype theory suggests that several meanings can be extended from the prototypical or primary meaning of a preposition. These different meanings are seen systematically interconnected, and they form semantic networks. Through conceptual metaphor, the meanings expressed by prepositions can be extended to express abstract concepts and meanings based on our embodied experiences. The concept of image schema develops from our physical interaction with the world so that we are able to shape our physical experiences into mental concepts or images. The cognitive-semantic approach shows that English prepositions are not just simple functional words. Instead, they are deeply connected to our mental processes and the way in which we perceive and understand the world.