A Research Of Computer English Vocabulary Teaching Based On Conceptual Metaphor Theory

Metaphor is not only a phenomenon and rhetorical means of language, but also one prevalent cognitive tool of human thinking and way of understanding abstract concepts. It is not just a surface linguistic phenomenon, but a deep cognitive mechanism. Lakoff and Johnson (1980) argue that we have a conceptual metaphor when one concept domain is understood in terms of another concept domain. It is pervasive in everyday life, not just in language but in thought and action. Teaching and learning English vocabulary in accordance with the rule of cognition is more effective than the traditional ways.Through literature review, we find that many researchers have been studying the metaphors in computer lexicon and terms; a lot of domestic and foreign scholars have been researching the importance and feasibility of employing metaphor to vocabulary teaching. But the research targets are mainly general vocabulary rather than that in English for specific purpose. There is not much study on the application of the conceptual metaphor theory to vocabulary teaching in some special fields such as computer English. The application of conceptual metaphor theory in particular environment such as vocational colleges is even less. Therefore, based on the understanding of conceptual metaphor theory, this paper tends to analyze computer English vocabulary and explore how to apply it to vocabulary teaching, so as to provide a new angle for computer English vocabulary teaching.To begin with, the paper presents a brief review of the relevant studies of conceptual metaphor regarding the application of conceptual metaphor theory to English teaching, the study of conceptual metaphors in computer English and computer English vocabulary teaching. Next, it takes conceptual metaphor theory as a guide to the practice of computer English vocabulary teaching in high vocational colleges, for a period of15weeks. The teaching object selected is the two classes which have similar English level in Hunan Biological and Electromechanical Polytechnic. In order to contrast, we take one class as the controlled class and use traditional teaching methods, the other class as experimental class and use conceptual metaphorical teaching. We adopt empirical study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the teaching practice. In our study we hold pre-test before teaching practice and two post-tests after teaching practice, use SPSS17.0to analyze the statistic data of the three tests. The result indicates that computer English vocabulary teaching combine with conceptual metaphor theory can help student understand computer English vocabulary, contribute to short-term and long-term memory of computer English vocabulary, help to improve the learners’metaphorical awareness and competence.We believe that we should draw into conceptual metaphorical teaching in computer English vocabulary teaching, cultivate students’metaphorical awareness and competence. Teaching which takes conceptual metaphor as a cognitive tool and combine it with computer English vocabulary is very effective.