(Article): The Conceptualization of English Phrasal Verbs by Greek Primary School Learners: An Empirical Cognitive Approach

Abstract: This study investigates the way Greek EFL elementary students conceptualize English phrasal verbs of the form component verb (take) plus component particle (up, down, in, out, back, off, on, apart). It is suggested image schemas play a facilitatory role in the conceptualization and interpretation of the figurative meanings of English phrasal verbs. The study argues that within the phrasal verb construct, the component particle prompts for the extension from literal to figurative meanings since the particle designates image schematic experiences (bodily-kinesthetic). The study conducted two types of test: (1) meaning of the sentence and (2) image-matching from the sentence. In test 1, participants were asked to read sentences which contained the verb take plus particles and they had to select the most appropriate meaning of the phrasal verb that matched the overall meaning of the sentence. In test 2, participants were asked to read sentences wherein phrasal verbs of the form take plus particles were highlighted. They were asked to match the meaning of the phrasal verb with one image. Each image represented a different type of image schema such as container, front-back orientation and proximity-distance.

Keywords: English phrasal verbs; figuration; young learners; cognitive processes; metaphor; image schemas

doi:10.3390/languages4030051

https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/4/3/51

citation: Tsaroucha, E. The Conceptualization of English Phrasal Verbs by Greek Primary School Learners: An Empirical Cognitive Approach. Languages 2019, 4, 51.

Applying Embodiment to Idiomatic Expressions; A View from Metonymic Grammar (forthcoming online by Peter Lang Publishers)

In this paper I will attempt to propose that image schemas are rooted in metonymy and at a secondary point they extend into metaphoric readings. Idiomatic expressions, and particularly English phrasal verbs will be the area of my investigation. Specifically, it is argued that the image schemas reflected by means of the English phrasal verbs take up, take out, take up and take down license referential metonymies due to particles’ metonymic properties. Given that the particle represents multiple ways according to which the language user conceptualizes the world and, given that the particle reflects sensory-motor experiences, I further assume that in the case of English phrasal verbs the combination of the semantics of the verb along with this of the particle structures certain kind of representations —conveyed through image schemas— according to which the language user embodies the above-named experiences. Moreover, I view that these experiences are conceptualized and expressed through English phrasal verbs in such a way so as to indicate the presence of certain relations of continuity between metonymy and metaphor. As a consequence, the goal of this paper is to support the view that image are metonymic and any extensions into metaphor are subject to metonymy’s reason d’être: from a broader perspective, metonymy prompts for meaning extension.