The Semantic Analysis of TOWARDS from the Perspective of Cognitive Linguistics

Abstract

The utilization of language has contributed to the imperative need for comprehension, selection, and articulation of the semantics of words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, etc. Indeed, meaning serves as an abstract entity within linguistic expressions, embodying the objects and phenomena of the world. Language signals are derived from human cognition, reflecting individuals' perceptions of the surrounding world. The evolution of cognition is intricately intertwined with and propels the advancement of the conceptual system and semantics, consequently impacting the content and structure of the language system. This article conducts an analysis of the semantic network of the preposition towards in Arthur Conan Doyle's The Complete Sherlock Holmes through cognitive perspective, encompassing spatial and non-spatial connotations. A quantitative method has been employed in this research endeavor to examine the meanings of this preposition. Subsequently, a limited-scale semantic network was established based on the findings. Furthermore, the result of this research can be used as a prototype for subsequent investigations.