El léxico de la ingeniería y su aprendizaje: estudio exploratorio

Abstract

This paper presents a proposal for engineering lexicon learning within Languages for Specific Purposes, from a cognitive-phraseological perspective. The main aim is to provide students with a simple and user-friendly method to learn technical vocabulary in their specialty. The procedure we propose relies mainly on the use of lexical and conceptual chunks articulated by means of metaphor and/or metonymy. In this respect, this phraseological study serves to foster discursive understanding by establishing lexical-semantic links and by relating apparently disconnected words and expressions. Discourse systematization can structure vocabulary study into conceptual frames that help create mental associations and facilitate memory retention. To illustrate lexical-conceptual categorization in the area of construction engineering, we conduct a study of the metaphorical domain of everyday objects in Spanish and English. An image analysis of this domain reveals that the occurrence of analogical relations can result from perceptual factors, functional factors, or both simultaneously. In addition, a cross-linguistic Spanish-English analysis of semantic and lexical variations showcases linguistic differences that seem to result from cross-cultural differences.