Chapter One Introduction 1.1 Research Background 1.2 Objectives of the Study 1.3 Organization of the Book Chapter Two Literature Review 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Categories of Reference Objects 2.3 Conceptual Transfer 2.4 Studies of L2 Acquisition of English Spatial Prepositions 2.5 Summary Chapter Three Theoretical Framework 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Dependency of the Use of in on Categorization of Objects as Containers 3.3 Cognitive Basis of the Use of in by Second Language Learners 3.4 Summary Chapter Four Categorization of Containers-A Preliminary Study 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Prototypicality of Containers 4.3 A Cross-linguistic Comparison of the CONTAINER Category 4.4 Summary Chapter Five Research Methodology 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Research Questions 5.3 Research Design 5.4 Operational Definition of L2 Proficiency 5.5 Participants 5.6 Instruments 5.7 Procedure 5.8 Data Analysis 5.9 Summary Chapter Six Results and Discussion 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Results of the Effect of Prototypicality 6.3 Results of the Effect of Degrees of Equivalence 6.4 Discussion of the Results 6.5 Summary Chapter Seven Conclusion 7.1 Major Findings 7.2 Implications of the Research 7.3 Limitations of the Research 7.4 Suggestions for Future Research References