Chapter 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Research Objective 1
1.2 Rationale for the Study 1
1.3 Definitions of Key Terms 9
1.4 Organization of the Chapters 12
Chapter 2 Theoretical Foundations 14
2.1 Introduction 14
2.2 Classical Ob.jectivist Theory of Thought，Language and Reality 15
2.3 Embodied Realist Theory of Thought， Language and Reality 21
2.4 Theory of Categorization 30
2.5 Summary 43
Chapter 3 Literature Review 45
3.1 Introduction 45
3.2 Studies on Non-Categorization Factors Impacting the Learning of Prepositions 46
3.3 Research on Categorization-Related Factors Influencing the Learning of Spatial Prepositions 51
3.4 An Overview of Approaches of Spatial Semantics Research 61
3.5 Summary 67
Chapter 4 Analysis of Spatial Semantics and the the Conceptu-al Framework 68
4.1 Introduction 68
4.2 Spatial Categories of in and on 70
4.3 The Relationship between in， on and Other English Spatial Categories 77
4.4 A Comparative Study of in， on and Their Chinese Semantic Counterparts 80
4.5 The Spatial Catego of over 100
4.6 The Relationship between over and Other English Spatial Prepositions 106
4.7 The Relationship between over and Its Related Chinese Spatial Terms 109
4.8 Summary 118
4.9 The Conceptual Framework of L2 Spatial Semantics Learning 126
4.10 Summary 136
Chapter 5 The Empirical Study 138
5.1 Introduction 138
5.2 Study 1 138
5.3 Study 2 160
5.4 Study 3 176
5.5 Summary of the Empirical Study 189
Chapter 6 General Discussion and Conclusion 192
6.1 Introduction 192
6.2 Research Questions Revisited and Major Findings 192
6.3 Implications for Classroom Language Teaching and Learning 205
6.4 Weaknesses of the Study and Suggestions for Future Study 207
Notes 211
Reference 216
Appendices 225
Chinese Acknowledgements（中文致谢辞） 343