This paper introduces a theory about the role of language in learning physics. The theory is developed in the context of physics students and physicists talking and writing about the subject of quantum mechanics. We found that physicists' language encodes different varieties of analogical models through the use of grammar and conceptual metaphor. We hypothesize that students categorize concepts into ontological categories based on the grammatical structure of physicists' language. We also hypothesize that students overextend and misapply conceptual metaphors in physicists' speech and writing. Using our theory, we will show how, in some cases, we can explain student difficulties in quantum mechanics as difficulties with language.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=5698">Brookes, David T., and Eugenia Etkina. "Using conceptual metaphor and functional grammar to explore how language used in physics affects student learning." Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 3, no. 1, (May 15, 2007): 010105.</a>
D. Brookes and E. Etkina, Using conceptual metaphor and functional grammar to explore how language used in physics affects student learning, Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 3 (1), 010105 (2007), <https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.3.010105>.
Brookes, D., & Etkina, E. (2007, May 15). Using conceptual metaphor and functional grammar to explore how language used in physics affects student learning. Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res., 3(1), 010105. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.3.010105
Brookes, David T., and Eugenia Etkina. "Using conceptual metaphor and functional grammar to explore how language used in physics affects student learning." Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 3, no. 1, (May 15, 2007): 010105, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.3.010105 (accessed 7 April 2025).
Brookes, David T., and Eugenia Etkina. "Using conceptual metaphor and functional grammar to explore how language used in physics affects student learning." Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 3.1 (2007): 010105. 7 Apr. 2025 <https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.3.010105>.
@article{
Author = "David T. Brookes and Eugenia Etkina",
Title = {Using conceptual metaphor and functional grammar to explore how language used in physics affects student learning},
Journal = {Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res.},
Volume = {3},
Number = {1},
Pages = {010105},
Month = {May},
Year = {2007}
}
%A David T. Brookes %A Eugenia Etkina %T Using conceptual metaphor and functional grammar to explore how language used in physics affects student learning %J Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. %V 3 %N 1 %D May 15, 2007 %P 010105 %U https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.3.010105 %O application/pdf
%0 Journal Article %A Brookes, David T. %A Etkina, Eugenia %D May 15, 2007 %T Using conceptual metaphor and functional grammar to explore how language used in physics affects student learning %J Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. %V 3 %N 1 %P 010105 %8 May 15, 2007 %U https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.3.010105
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