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Cognitive Linguistics and Its Applications to Second Language Teaching

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Book cover Language Awareness and Multilingualism

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Language and Education ((ELE))

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Abstract

Cognitive linguistics (CL) is based on the assumption that meaning is embodied and attempts to explain facts about language in terms of other properties and mechanisms of the human mind and body. Meaning is therefore often motivated through metaphor, metonymy, and image schemas, not only at the lexical level but also in syntax and morphology. Even though studies that apply CL theoretical insights to L2 learning and teaching are still relatively sparse, applied linguists such as Nick Ellis (cf. 19 and 1999) and Jim Lantolf (2011) have explicitly stated that CL has a lot to offer to SLA because it provides for meaningful learning, giving insight into the conceptual principles that may give rise to different forms. This chapter first gives a brief overview of how CL has developed, and then after explaining CL in more detail, it shows what a CL view entails for second language development and how it may be used in raising language awareness in second language teaching.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In Late Latin, the verb lanco occurred, related to the noun lancea. The English verb launch and noun lance are derived from two different French dialects. In its earliest attestation, launch is used with the sense of wielding a lance.

  2. 2.

    Because there is also a degree of metaphor involved (tension projected on face) in addition to the fact that the tautness points to the person’s emotion, Goossens (1990) would label this example “metaphtonymy.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of English and Applied Linguistics, University of Groningen, Postbus 716, 9700AS, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Marjolijn H. Verspoor

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  1. Marjolijn H. Verspoor
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Correspondence to Marjolijn H. Verspoor .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept Res Methods Education, University of the Basque Country Dept Res Methods Education, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain

    Jasone Cenoz

  2. UPV/EHU - IKERBASCQUE, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU - IKERBASCQUE, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain

    Durk Gorter

  3. Faculty of Education, University of Auckland, School of Critic, Auckland, New Zealand

    Stephen May

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Verspoor, M.H. (2016). Cognitive Linguistics and Its Applications to Second Language Teaching. In: Cenoz, J., Gorter, D., May, S. (eds) Language Awareness and Multilingualism. Encyclopedia of Language and Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02325-0_4-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02325-0_4-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-02325-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-02325-0

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Cognitive Linguistics and Its Applications to Second Language Teaching
    Published:
    27 December 2016

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02325-0_4-2

  2. Original

    Cognitive Linguistics and Its Applications to Second Language Teaching
    Published:
    30 August 2016

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02325-0_4-1

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