Abstract: English vocabulary, just similar to the relationship between brick and building, is the fundamental part of English language. The famous British linguist Wilkins once put it: “Without grammar, very little can be conveyed; without vocabulary, nothing can be conveyed” (111). So, we can see that vocabulary is essential to language. Important as it is, vocabulary teaching is very difficult in China. Both teachers and students are bothered by the monotony and low efficiency of traditional rote memorization method of memorizing words, the kind of method that is based on arbitrariness by Saussure. However, since the 1980s, with the development of cognitive linguistics, many linguists have shifted their focus from arbitrariness to iconicity. Different from arbitrariness, iconicity is defined as the phenomena of corresponding resemblance between language form and referent. Thus, iconicity has challenged arbitrariness and cast a new light on the field of vocabulary teaching. It will help students find the motivation of the words, thus will make vocabulary learning easier, more interesting and efficient. 

This thesis will first review the studies on iconicity both at home and abroad and give a general introduction to vocabulary teaching. Then it will discuss iconicity on the lexical level. Finally, it will focus on vocabulary teaching in Junior High School based on iconicity. I hope that this thesis will make a contribution to vocabulary teaching in Junior high school.

     Key words: Iconicity; Cognitive Linguistics; Vocabulary Teaching

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction-1

2 Literature Review-3

2.1Former Approaches on Iconicity-3

2.2 Cognitive Linguistic Approaches on Iconicity-4

2.3 A General Introduction to Vocabulary Teaching and Learning-5

3 Iconicity on Lexical Level-7

3.1 Phonetic Iconicity-7

3.2 Morphological Iconicity-9

3.3 Semantic Iconicity-10

3.4 Etymological Iconicity-11

3.5 Word-order Iconicity-12

4 Vocabulary Teaching and Learning in Junior High School Based on Lexical Iconicity-12

4.1 Taking Students into Consideration-13

4.2 Specific Methods of Vocabulary Teaching and Learning in Junior High Based on Iconicity-13

5 Conclusion-15

Bibliography-16

Acknowledgements-19