Toward A Cognitive Approach To Semantic Deviation

As a common linguistic phenomenon, semantic deviation is, in many cases, a fruitful device for creating language novelty, face-value absurdity and beauty. Meanwhile, it is an inseparable linguistic thought pattern of human beings. The existing studies of semantic deviation, at home and abroad, are mainly constrained to the field of stylistics. Drawing on the research of Chomsky, Mukarovsky, and Halliday, this thesis, with a cognitive approach (the conceptual blending network) to semantic deviation, analyzes the working mechanism of semantic deviation, and more significantly, proposes a systematic and brand-new definition. The new definition uncovers the essence of semantic deviation and effectively broadens its denotation. It explores some significant features and functions of semantic deviation. Considering the fact that semantic deviation is a thorny and easily overlooked issue in foreign language teaching, this thesis carefully designs a deviation-based class training program to improve the students'creative thinking in foreign language acquisition and daily use.