Expanding the English vocabulary for Iraqi second language (L2) learners is a challenging task. In the present work, Langacker's cognitive linguistic theory of domains (1987) is adopted to provide a new sight into vocabulary learning, and to expand the vocabulary repertoire of Iraqi students. This paper aims at testing the validity of expanding the English vocabulary of L2 Iraqi learners throughout the theory of domains. It also tries to find how can domains theory increase the package of vocabulary for L2 learners. Accordingly, an experimental study is to be conducted on forty-six college students of second-year level from, University of Baghdad, Iraq. The data of the pre-test and post-test were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) l editor. Results have shown the following: First, the progress of more than (0.05≤) has been detected as far as students' understanding of the semantic domains of the lexical concepts. Second, the main source of difficulty regarding vocabulary acquisition has been treated throughout Langacker's theory. Third, the domains theory has proven its effectiveness in accurately comprehending the semantic domains of the English lexical concepts.

The current study is quantitative by nature; it cognitively studies the polysemous network of the English preposition at and its various meanings. The results of the pre-test conducted by the researcher have tentatively revealed that Iraqi second language (L2) learners fall in the perplexity because of the multi-usages of this preposition. This incomprehensive view of the preposition at motivates the researcher to analyze this preposition semantically according to insights from cognitive linguistics (CL) that was developed by Evans and Tyler (2003). Accordingly, sixty-eight second year university students participated in this experimental study. The pre-test and post-test data were analyzed using SPSS. Results have shown the following: First, a progress of more than (0.05) has been detected as far as students' understanding of the multiple usages of the preposition at. Second, the results of the questionnaire have shown a prominent positive change in the students' attitude toward CL approach. Third, the main source of difficulty regarding the diversity in the semantics of the preposition at has been displayed. Fourth, CL as an approach has proven its effectiveness in accurately comprehending of the semantics of the English preposition at.

Expanding the English vocabulary for Iraqi second language (L2) learners is a challenging task. In the present work, Langacker's cognitive linguistic theory of domains (1987) is adopted to provide a new sight into vocabulary learning, and to expand the vocabulary repertoire of Iraqi students. This paper aims at testing the validity of expanding the English vocabulary of L2 Iraqi learners throughout the theory of domains. It also tries to find how can domains theory increase the package of vocabulary for L2 learners. Accordingly, an experimental study is to be conducted on forty-six college students of second-year level from, University of Baghdad, Iraq. The data of the pre-test and post-test were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) l editor. Results have shown the following: First, the progress of more than (0.05≤) has been detected as far as students' understanding of the semantic domains of the lexical concepts. Second, the main source of difficulty regarding vocabulary acquisition has been treated throughout Langacker's theory. Third, the domains theory has proven its effectiveness in accurately comprehending the semantic domains of the English lexical concepts.

Expanding the English vocabulary for Iraqi second language (L2) learners is a challenging task. In the present work, Langacker’s cognitive linguistic theory of domains (1987) is adopted to provide a new sight into vocabulary learning, and to expand the vocabulary repertoire of Iraqi students. This paper aims at testing the validity of expanding the English vocabulary of L2 Iraqi learners throughout the theory of domains. It also tries to find how can domains theory increase the package of vocabulary for L2 learners. Accordingly, an experimental study is to be conducted on forty-six college students of second-year level from, University of Baghdad, Iraq. The data of the pre-test and post-test were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) l editor. Results have shown the following: First, the progress of more than (0.05≤) has been detected as far as students' understanding of the semantic domains of the lexical concepts. Second, the main source of difficulty regarding vocabulary acquisition has been treated throughout Langacker's theory. Third, the domains theory has proven its effectiveness in accurately comprehending the semantic domains of the English lexical concepts.

The present study analyzes two locative English prepositions behind and beyond from the cognitive semantic point of view. These prepositions pose a problem experienced by Iraqi undergraduates. The complexity of these two prepositions encourages the researcher to use the cognitive linguistics (CL) approach and its insights as developed by Evans and Tyler 2003 to test its validity and help the Iraqi students. The data analysis is quantitatively-based. Seventy second-year university students participate in this experimental study. The pre-test and post-test data are analyzed through SPSS statistical editor and the results show a progress of more than (0.05≤). The results of the questionnaire show a noticeable positive change in the students’ attitude toward CL approach and display the main source of difficulty that is related to perplexity in the usage of these prepositions. The effectiveness of CL approach in getting accurate comprehension of the English prepositions behind and beyond is proved by the results of this experiment.