International Journal of Language and Linguistics

| Peer-Reviewed |

The Reflection of Markedness in Prototype Category Theory on Semantic Level and Its Implications for Second Language Acquisition

Received: 04 March 2014    Accepted:     Published: 30 March 2014
Views:       Downloads:

Share This Article

Abstract

Markedness is one of the analytical principles of linguistics; it indicates the existence of asymmetric relationship inside the language category, and this concept is widely used in phonology, semantics, syntax analysis, sentence structures, pragmatics and applied linguistics. Therefore, the markedness is quite valuable to the analysis of languages. Prototype category theory is an important theory in cognitive linguistics. It is totally different from the traditional category theory and claims that categories are constituted by the Family Resemblance among the members but not by the essential and enough circumstances. This paper mainly discusses the markedness phenomenon on semantic level and tries to explain it by using the prototype category theory which belongs to the category of cognitive linguistics. With the analysis of different word meanings, this paper tries to explore the reflection of markedness by using prototype category theory in three different areas, that is, antonyms, gender nouns and polysemous words in English. With the research results obtained from the analysis of markedness on semantic level, the paper will discuss the implications of markedness for language transfer and vocabulary teaching and learning in second language acquisition.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijll.20140202.17
Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 2, Issue 2, March 2014)
Page(s) 95-101
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Markedness, Unmarked Item, Prototype Category, Second Language Acquisition

References
[1] Anderson, H. Markedness Theory — The first 150 Years. In O. Tomic (ed.). Markedness in Synchrony and Diachrony [M]. New York: Mouton de Gruyter, 1989.11-46.
[2] Battistella, E. The Logic of Markedness [M]. New York/Oxford University Press, 1996.
[3] Berlin, B. and P. Kay. Basic Color Terms: Their Universality and Evolution [M]. Berkeley, Los Angeles: University of Chicago Press, 1969.
[4] Bolinger, D. The Form of Language [M]. London: Longmans, 1977.
[5] Brown, R. How Shall a Thing be Called? [J]. Psychological Review, 1958, (65): 14-21.
[6] Brown, R. Social Psychology [M]. New York: Free Press, 1965.
[7] Chomsky, N and M. Halle. The Sound Pattern of English [M]. New York: Harper and Row, 1968
[8] Chomsky. The Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory [M]. Chicago: Chicago University Press, 1985.
[9] Clark, H. H. and Clark, E. V. Psychology and Language. An Introduction to Psycholinguistics [M]. New York: Harcout Brace Jovanovich, 1977.
[10] Comrie, B. Markedness, Grammar, People, and the World. In Eckman, et al. (eds.). Markedness [M]. New York: Plenum Press, 1986. 85一106.
[11] Croft, W. Typology and Universals [M]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.
[12] Croft, W. Syntactic Categories and Grammatical Relations [M]. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991.
[13] Cruse, D. A. Lexical Semantics [M]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986.
[14] Crystal, D. A First Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics [M]. London: Andre Deutsch, 1980. 27-74.
[15] Dixon, R. M. W. Where have All the Adjectives Gone? [J]. Studies in Language, 1977, (1): 19-80.
[16] Eckman, F. R. Markedness and the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis [J]. Language Learning, 1977, (27): 315-330.
[17] Ellis, R.The Study of Second Language Acquisition [M].Oxford:Oxford University Press,1997.
[18] Fillmore, C. C. Towards a Descriptive Framework for Spatial Deixis. In R. J. Jarvella and W. Klein (eds.). Speech, Place and Action [M]. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1982. 31-59.
[19] Forner, M. On the Historical Development of Marked Forms. In Garry, W. D. et al. (eds.) [J]. Explanation in Historical Linguistics, 1992. 77-94.
[20] Geeraerts, D. Introduction: Prospects and Problems of Prototype Theory [J]. Linguistics, 1989, (27): 587-612.
[21] Geeraerts, D. Diachronic Prototype Semantics [M]. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994
[22] Givon, T. Syntax: A Functional-Typological Introduction [M]. Vol. I&II. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 1990.
[23] Givon, T. Functionalism and Grammar [M]. Amsterdam: J. Benjamins, 1995.
[24] Greenberg, J. H. Universals of Language [M] (2nd edition). Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1966.
[25] Gundel, J. K., K. Houlihan and G A. Sanders. Markedness and Distribution in Phonology and Syntax. In Eckman, et al. Markedness [M]. New York: Plenum Press, 1986. 107-138.
[26] Halliday, M. A. K. An Introduction to Functional Grammar [M]. London: Edward Arnold, 1985.
[27] Jakobson,R. Shifters,Verbal categories,and the Russian Verb [A].In Waugh,L.R.and M.Halle (eds.).Russian and Slavic Grammar: Studies,1931—1981[c].The Hague:Mouton,1939.
[28] Labov,W.The Boundaries of Words and Their Meanings [A].In Bailey,C.J.N.&Shug,R.W.(eds.) New Ways of Analyzing Variation in English [C].Washington:Georgetown University Press,1973.
[29] Lakoff, G. Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things [M].Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987.
[30] Lyons J. Semantics [M]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1977.
[31] Lehrer A.Markedness and Antonymy [J].Journal of Linguistics, 1985 (21): 397 - 429.
[32] Mac Cormac, E. R. A Cognitive Theory of Metaphor [M]. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1990.
[33] Mazurkewich, I. Dative Question and Markedness. In F.R. Eckman, L.H. Bell and D. Nelson (eds.). Universals of Second Language Acquisition [M]. Rowley, MA: New bury House, 1984.
[34] Moravcsik, E and J. Wirth. Markedness: An Overview. In Eckman, et al. Markedness [M]. New York: Plenum Press, 1986. 1一12.
[35] Odlin, T. Language Transfer [M]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.
[36] Quirk, R et al. A Grammar of Contemporary English [M]. London: Longman, 1973.
[37] Richards, J., Platt, J. and Weber, H. Longman Dictionary or Applied Linguistics [M]. London: Longman, 1985.
[38] Rosch, E. and C. B. Mervis. Family Resemblances: Studies in the Internal Structure of Categories [J]. Cognitive Psychology, 1975, (7): 573-605.
[39] Rosch, E. Principles of Categorization. In E. Rosch and B. B. Lloyd (eds.). Cognitive and Categorization [M]. Hillsdale, New York: Lawrence Erlbaum, 1978. 27-48.
[40] Rosch E. Cognitive representations of semantic categories [J]. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1975 (104).
[41] Rusiecki, J. Adjectives and Comparison in English: A Semantic Study [M]. London: Longman, 1985.
[42] Saeed, J. Semantics [M]. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2000.
[43] Sposky, B. Conditions for Second Language Learning [M]. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.
[44] Taylor, J. R. Linguistic Categorization: Prototypes in Linguistic Theory [M]. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2001.
[45] Trubetzkoy, N. S. The Principles of Phonology [M]. Prague: Cerele Linguistique de Prague, 1939.
[46] Waugh, L. Marked and Unmarked: A Choice between Unequals in Semiotic Structure [J]. Semiotica, 1982, (38): 299-318.
[47] Wittgenstein,L.Philosophical investigation[M].Oxford:Basil Blackwell, 1953
[48] Kellerman E.Transfer and non-transfer:Where are we now? [J].Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 1979 (2):37—57.
[49] Huang Huijian. The Influence of Language Markedness on the Use of Language [J].Foreign Language Teaching, 2003(1).
[50] Wang Lifei. Explanation and Expansion of Language Markedness [J].Foreign Language Research, 2003(2).
[51] Zhao Yanfang. The Introduction of Cognitive Linguistics [M].Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Languages Education Press, 2000.
Author Information
  • School of Foreign Languages, Shandong Jiaotong University, Jinan, China

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Zhang Qiang. (2014). The Reflection of Markedness in Prototype Category Theory on Semantic Level and Its Implications for Second Language Acquisition. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 2(2), 95-101. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20140202.17

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Zhang Qiang. The Reflection of Markedness in Prototype Category Theory on Semantic Level and Its Implications for Second Language Acquisition. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2014, 2(2), 95-101. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20140202.17

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Zhang Qiang. The Reflection of Markedness in Prototype Category Theory on Semantic Level and Its Implications for Second Language Acquisition. Int J Lang Linguist. 2014;2(2):95-101. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20140202.17

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijll.20140202.17,
      author = {Zhang Qiang},
      title = {The Reflection of Markedness in Prototype Category Theory on Semantic Level and Its Implications for Second Language Acquisition},
      journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
      volume = {2},
      number = {2},
      pages = {95-101},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20140202.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20140202.17},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20140202.17},
      abstract = {Markedness is one of the analytical principles of linguistics; it indicates the existence of asymmetric relationship inside the language category, and this concept is widely used in phonology, semantics, syntax analysis, sentence structures, pragmatics and applied linguistics. Therefore, the markedness is quite valuable to the analysis of languages. Prototype category theory is an important theory in cognitive linguistics. It is totally different from the traditional category theory and claims that categories are constituted by the Family Resemblance among the members but not by the essential and enough circumstances. This paper mainly discusses the markedness phenomenon on semantic level and tries to explain it by using the prototype category theory which belongs to the category of cognitive linguistics. With the analysis of different word meanings, this paper tries to explore the reflection of markedness by using prototype category theory in three different areas, that is, antonyms, gender nouns and polysemous words in English. With the research results obtained from the analysis of markedness on semantic level, the paper will discuss the implications of markedness for language transfer and vocabulary teaching and learning in second language acquisition.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Reflection of Markedness in Prototype Category Theory on Semantic Level and Its Implications for Second Language Acquisition
    AU  - Zhang Qiang
    Y1  - 2014/03/30
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20140202.17
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20140202.17
    T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
    JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
    JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
    SP  - 95
    EP  - 101
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-0221
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20140202.17
    AB  - Markedness is one of the analytical principles of linguistics; it indicates the existence of asymmetric relationship inside the language category, and this concept is widely used in phonology, semantics, syntax analysis, sentence structures, pragmatics and applied linguistics. Therefore, the markedness is quite valuable to the analysis of languages. Prototype category theory is an important theory in cognitive linguistics. It is totally different from the traditional category theory and claims that categories are constituted by the Family Resemblance among the members but not by the essential and enough circumstances. This paper mainly discusses the markedness phenomenon on semantic level and tries to explain it by using the prototype category theory which belongs to the category of cognitive linguistics. With the analysis of different word meanings, this paper tries to explore the reflection of markedness by using prototype category theory in three different areas, that is, antonyms, gender nouns and polysemous words in English. With the research results obtained from the analysis of markedness on semantic level, the paper will discuss the implications of markedness for language transfer and vocabulary teaching and learning in second language acquisition.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

  • Sections