Author(s)

Suya Zhang and Zhenhua Li

Corresponding Author

Suya Zhang

ABSTRACT

Polysemy is a common phenomenon in language, which is an objective requirement for the development and change of language. Polysemy, on the one hand, reduces the necessary vocabulary and the memory burden of learners, on the other hand, causes ambiguity and increases the difficulty of language communication. The study of polysemy from the perspective of cognitive metaphor could reveal the rule of senses extension from basic senses or central senses to metaphorical senses and the relationship among senses. Accurately and efficiently mastering polysemy in English vocabulary can improve students’ English expression ability and communication accuracy, which is of great practical and theoretical value to English teaching and research.

KEYWORDS

Polysemy; cognitive metaphor; lexical teaching