语言形式与语义的隐喻认知解释及其对英语教学的启示

认知语言学家认为,每一种特定的语言形式,都有其自身的含义,不同的语言形式表达的语义也有所不同。语言表达形式与语义在量和距离上的关系表现为:一方面,语符(即形式)量越多,语义(即内容)信息量也越多(MORE OF FORMIS MORE OF CONTENT);另一方面,语符间距离越近,语义效果越强(CLOSENESS IS STRENGTHOF EFFECT)。这是人们把语言形式空间化,并通过空间化隐喻去认识语言表达形式和语义的结果。语言形式与语义间的关系对外语教学具有启发意义。

A Metaphorical and Cognitive Approach to the Relations Between Linguistic Forms and Meanings and Its Enligntment to English Teaching

As is believed by cognitive linguists,every linguistic form has its specific meaning.Accordingly,different forms have different meanings.The relation between linguistic form and meaning in terms of quantity and distance is as follows: on the one hand,more forms mean more meanings(MORE OF FORM IS MORE OF CONTENT);on the other hand,the CLOSER form A is to form B,the STRONGER will be the EFFECT of the meaning of A on the meaning of B(CLOSENESS IS STRENGTH OF EFFECT).This is the consequence of people's conceptualizing linguistic forms in terms of space,and thus seeing the relation between linguistic form and meaning in terms of spatialization metaphors.The relation between linguistic form and meaning renders enlightment to language teaching.