Volume 4,Issue 3
Applying Conceptual Metaphor Theory in English Vocabulary Teaching from a Cognitive Perspective
This study explores the use of metaphor in teaching English vocabulary under the framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory. Traditional rote memorization methods in vocabulary learning often fail to account for the cognitive connections among lexical items. The study explores conceptual metaphors in three areas in which polysemy, idioms, and cultural connotations are studied using qualitative analysis and representative examples that show how vocabulary is learned through conceptual metaphors. Results show that lexical meanings are not arbitrarily arrived at by arbitrary definitions but instead, guided systematically by underlying metaphorical mappings. Learners can improve their knowledge of semantic relationships, better retention and use the language more flexibly by determining source domains and building semantic networks. The research explains that incorporating Conceptual Metaphor Theory in teaching English vocabulary makes the process of learning to be more cognitively based and pedagogically significant.
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