A lexical-semantic analysis of the English prepositions 'at', 'on' and 'in' and their conceptual mapping onto Arabic : a comparative investigation
This study examines the semantic factors that determine the choice of the English spatial prepositions at, on and in within a cognitive semantic framework and accounts, as proposed by Herskovits (1986), Lindstromberg (1998, 2010), Talmy (2000), Tyler and Evans (2003), and Coventry and Garrod (2004). A semantic multiple-choice test was conducted to examine the performance of 54 ESL learners (32 Arabs, 11 Spanish, 11 Japanese). This test consisted of 59 items, in which central and peripheral prepositional meanings were included and were presented, with or without images. A repeated measure ANOVA test was used to analyse the findings for the semantic test. The semantic test findings revealed that: (1) The deviation of the performance of Arab ESL learners when using these prepositions could not only be explained by L1 interference patterns (Arabic) into L2 language (English), but (2) mastering them requires those ESL learners to have a high level of proficiency. (3) The peripheral meaning of prepositions posed a significant challenge to the participants in the test, especially during the trials for 'at'. (4) The polysemous nature of English prepositions significantly impedes the progress of Arab ESL learners in
Almuoseb, Anwar
A lexical-semantic analysis of the English prepositions 'at', 'on' and 'in' and their conceptual mapping onto Arabic : a comparative investigation. This study examines the semantic factors that determine the choice of the English spatial prepositions at, on and in within a cognitive semantic framework and accounts, as proposed by Herskovits (1986), Lindstromberg (1998, 2010), Talmy (2000), Tyler and Evans (2003), and Coventry and Garrod (2004). A semantic multiple-choice test was conducted to examine the performance of 54 ESL learners (32 Arabs, 11 Spanish, 11 Japanese). This test consisted of 59 items, in which central and peripheral prepositional meanings were included and were presented, with or without images. A repeated measure ANOVA test was used to analyse the findings for the semantic test. The semantic test findings revealed that: (1) The deviation of the performance of Arab ESL learners when using these prepositions could not only be explained by L1 interference patterns (Arabic) into L2 language (English), but (2) mastering them requires those ESL learners to have a high level of proficiency. (3) The peripheral meaning of prepositions posed a significant challenge to the participants in the test, especially during the trials for 'at'. (4) The polysemous nature of English prepositions significantly impedes the progress of Arab ESL learners in
lexical_semantic analysis english preposition conceptual mapping onto arabic comparative investigation study_examines semantic factor_determine choice english spatial preposition within cognitive semantic framework account propose talmy evans coventry semantic multiple choice test conduct examine performance esl_learner arabs spanish japanese test consist item central peripheral prepositional meaning include present without image repeat measure test use analyse finding semantic test semantic test finding_reveal deviation performance arab esl_learner use preposition could_explain interference pattern arabic_language english require esl_learner high_level proficiency peripheral meaning preposition pose significant challenge participant test especially trial polysemous nature english preposition significantly impede progress arab esl_learner