Author(s): Carol Y. M. Chan
E-mail: chancaro@srv0.apl.ed.ac.uk
Second-language narratives in English use the same linguistic structures as first-language texts. However, when they seek to convey non-English sensibilities and local realities, the words used are made to carry additional cultural meanings. How are such cultural meanings organised and communicated? This paper presents the theory of prototype semantics as a useful approach to understanding the relationship between language and culture in second-language texts. Prototypical meanings are highly significant because they refer the reader to specific cultural models. A second-language narrative will be discussed to demonstrate how prototypical meaning based on a specific cultural model can generate culturally significant meanings in the text.
Paper: Postscript (350371 bytes)