Findings of cognitive linguistics in teaching Czech language on secondary school

Abstract

The article presents the ways how to work with meanings of lexemes in Czech language classes on secondary school. The teacher can use the findings of cognitive linguistics and follow the semantic features theory (definition theory) and the semantic prototype theory.

Students learn through practical exercises how the categorization functions. The cognitive stereotype theory is introduced.

Students learn not only to interpret a negative categorization, but also positive aspects, the exercise thus helps to fight against prejudice, e. g. ethnic or gender.

Keywords

• cognitive linguistics
• definition theory
• semantic prototype
• stereotype
• categorization
• Czech language didactics