Master thesis in the English language: An Investigation into the Use of Conceptual Metaphor in English and Vietnamese Idioms Denoting Human Feelings

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Examine the description of semantic features of metaphor in English and Vietnamese idioms denoting human feelings; discover some similarities and differences in using idiomatic metaphor especially those used in English and Vietnamese idioms denoting human feelings.

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Nội dung Text: Master thesis in the English language: An Investigation into the Use of Conceptual Metaphor in English and Vietnamese Idioms Denoting Human Feelings

-1- -2- MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING UNIVERSITY OF DANANG The study has been completed at the College of Foreign Languages, University of Danang NGUY N HOÀNG NAM Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Văn Hòa AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE USE OF CONCEPTUAL METAPHOR IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE IDIOMS Examiner 1: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trương Viên Examiner 2: Dr. Tr n Quang H i DENOTING HUMAN FEELINGS Subject Area : The English Language Code : 60.22.15 The thesis was orally defended at the Examining Committee Time: October 29th, 2012 Venue: University of Danang MASTER THESIS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (A SUMMARY) The origin of the thesis is accessible for the purpose of reference at: - The College of Foreign Languages Library, University of Danang Da Nang, 2012 - Information Resources Centre, University of Danang -3CHAPTER 1 -41.2.2. Objectives of the study INTRODUCTION 1.1. RATIONALE English plays an important part not only in communication - to provide a collection of English and Vietnamese idioms denoting human feelings in terms of happiness, sadness, anger and fear. but also in many aspects of life and more and more people study it. - to analyze the use of conceptual metaphor in English and However how to study it well and how to master it is still an Vietnamese, focusing on metaphors in idioms denoting human enormous question for a lot of learners. feelings in terms of happiness, sadness, anger and fear. For learners of English, knowing and understanding idiomatic expressions is a major step to master this language. And we all know that such short expressions contain numerous linguistic features. One of those is metaphor especially conceptual metaphor. Study on conceptual metaphor and idioms provides a lot of - to suggest some ideas for teaching and learning. 1.3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. What are the semantic features of English and Vietnamese idioms denoting human feelings in terms of happiness, sadness, anger and fear? helpful knowledge because a good understanding of how conceptual 2. What are the similarities and differences between English metaphor is used in idioms is the key which helps to see the beauty as and Vietnamese idioms denoting human feelings in terms of well as the culture color of language. That is the reason why I choose happiness, sadness, anger and fear through conceptual metaphor? the topic “An Investigation into the Use of Conceptual Metaphor in 3. What are the implications for understanding the use of English and Vietnamese Idioms Denoting Human Feelings”. conceptual metaphor in English and Vietnamese idioms denoting 1.2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES human feelings in terms of happiness, sadness, anger and fear in 1.2.1. Aims of the study teaching and learning idioms? - examine the description of semantic features of metaphor in English and Vietnamese idioms denoting human feelings. 1.4. SCOPE OF THE STUDY Due to the limited time, space and our own ability, this study - discover some similarities and differences in using only focuses on the semantic features of conceptual metaphors in idiomatic metaphor especially those used in English and Vietnamese idioms denoting human feelings in terms of happiness, sadness, anger idioms denoting human feelings. and fear. - help learners to spot out idioms not only in receptive skills but also in productive ones. - help teachers to teach the lessons relating idioms more effectively. 1.5. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This study makes an attempt to provide learners with potential source of English and Vietnamese idioms denoting human feelings. Besides, with the aim to focus on the semantic features of -5- -6- conceptual metaphor in idioms denoting human feelings, the study CHAPTER 2 will help learners understand the differences of English and LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND Vietnamese cultures and know how to apply the knowledge of 2.1. REVIEW OF PREVIOUS STUDIES conceptual metaphor in idioms not only in studying but also in the Metaphors have been so far studied by many linguists in the real life. world such as Max Black (1962) in “Metaphor,” Models and 1.6. ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY Metaphors [4] stated that metaphor as a prediction whose expression Chapter 1, “Introduction”, includes the rationale, the aims is a sentence, Galperin (1971) in “Stylistics” [10] considered a and objectives, the research questions, the scope of the study, the metaphor to be a relationship between the dictionary and contextual significance of the study and organization of the study. logical meaning and Lakoff and Johnson (1980) in “ Metaphors We Chapter 2, “Literature Review and Theoretical Background”, Live By” [18], which introduced his new views about metaphor and presents the previous study related to the paper, giving a strong Lakoff’s theory has really opened a new horizon for researchers on statement of the importance of this thesis and some theoretical metaphors, etc. and in Vietnam, H u Đ t (2000) in “Phong cách h c backgrounds of the study. và phong cách ch c năng Ti ng Vi t” [29] refered to metaphor all of Chapter 3 “Methods and Procedures”, mentions the aims, kinds; Phan Văn Hòa (2008) in his article “ n d , n d d ng h c và the objectives of the study, then the methodology, the design of the n d ng pháp” [34] pointed out metaphor’s important roles in both the growth of languages and communication and Nguy n Đ c T n research, data collection, and data analysis. Chapter 4: “Discussions of Findings”, focuses on presenting (2009) in his article “ Đ c trưng tư duy c a ngư i vi t qua n d tri the semantic features of English and Vietnamese idioms denoting nh n trong thành ng .” [48] stated the conceptual metaphor in human feelings in the terms of happiness, sadness, anger and fear and Vietnamese proverbs, etc. describing 2.2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND analyzing conceptual metaphors in English and Vietnamese idioms denoting human feelings in terms of happiness, sadness, anger and fear. Chapter 5: “The Conclusion”, includes the summary, the implications, the limitations, and suggestions for further study. 2.2.1. Metaphor There have been numerous definitions of metaphor and below are some selected definitions on metaphor. According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary [1], “metaphor is a word or phrase used to describe somebody or something else, in a way that is different from its normal use, in order to show that the two things have the same qualities and to make the description more powerful”. -7- -8- For Hoang Tat Truong (1993) [12], metaphor can be 2.2.2.2. Functions of metaphor understood as the transference of names based on the association of According to Andrew Ortony and Lynn Fainsilber in the similarity, we call one object and find some common features article “The role of metaphors in descriptions of emotions”, there are between them that is we can liken something to something else on functions. Firstly, there is the so-called inexpressibility hypothesis. certain grounds. That means that metaphors are used for expressions that are not easy “Metaphor is a word or phrase that is used in an imaginative to explain with literal language. Secondly, it is called compactness way to show that somebody/something has the same qualities as hypothesis. This hypothesis says that people can express ideas more another thing.” [15] detailed and compact with metaphors. Lastly, it is called vividness “Metaphor is the transference of meaning(name) from one hypothesis. This hypothesis says that by metaphors, expressions are object to another, based on similarity between the two objects.” [24] “ n d t là cách cá nhân lâm th i l y tên g i bi u th ñ i tư ng này dùng ñ bi u th ñ i tư ng kia d a trên cơ s c a m i quan h liên tư ng v nét tương ñ ng gi a hai ñ i tư ng.” [32] 2.2.2. Conceptual metaphor made clearer and livened up. 2.2.2.3. Classification of metaphors For Lakoff and Johnson (1980) [18], there are three types of metaphor: Structural metaphor, Orientational metaphor and Ontological metaphor. 2.2.2.1. Definition Structural metaphor: Lakoff and Johnson (1980) [18] According to Bluejoh [50], Conceptual metaphors are considered this group of structural metaphors to be the biggest one. A metaphors which are considered to be deeply entrenched in our structural metaphor refers to a conceptual metaphor that is cognition. constructed from one conceptual structure to another. In other words, A conceptual metaphor is “a metaphor that exists in the mind of a speaker, and may thus be unconscious” in structural metaphor, one concept is understood and expressed in [14] terms of another structured, sharply defined concept. With the help of According to Lakoff and Johnson (1980) [18], conceptual the structural metaphor, we can use the words concerning one metaphor is when we understand one conceptual domain in terms of concept to talk about another concept. another conceptual domain. For example, in the conceptual metaphor, Orientational metaphor: Unlike the structural metaphors, ARGUMENT IS WAR, we understand argument in terms of war, in orientational metaphors do not structure one concept in terms of the conceptual metaphor, LIFE IS A JOURNEY or LOVE IS A another but instead organize a whole system of concepts with respect JOURNEY, we understand life or love in terms of journey and in the to one another. Lakoff and Johnson (1980) [18] call thse orientational conceptual metaphor, TIME IS MONEY, we understand time in metaphors, since most of them have to do with spatial orientation: terms of money, etc. -9- -10- up-down, in-out, front-back, on-off, deep-shallow, central-peripheral, and figurative meaning and is used to describe an image, a etc. phenomenon, a characteristic, or a state” Ontological metaphor: Lakoff and Johnson (1980) [18] [40] 2.2.3.2. Metaphor in idioms believe that our experience of physical objects and substances Metaphors in idioms are idioms built on the basis of provides a further basis for understanding-one that goes beyond mere describing an event, a phenomenon with the phrase, but expressed a orientation. Understanding our experiences in terms of objects and metaphorical sense. substances allows us to pick out parts of our experience and treat Eg: She went through the roof when I told her I’d crashed her them as discrete entities or substances of a uniform kind. Besides, our car. It means she became very angry (metaphorical meaning) not she experiences with physical objects provide the basic for an went through the roof (literal meaning). extraordinarily wide variety of ontological metaphors, that is, ways 2.2.3.3. Human feelings idioms of viewing events, activities, emotions, ideas, etc., as entities and substances. Human feelings idioms are idioms which are used to express the emotions. Unlike the other kinds of idioms whose terms with Container metaphor is the most typical kind of ontological special meaning are considered key words, human feelings idioms metaphors. According to Lakoff and Johnson, human beings are are a special group which the terms in idioms sometimes have no containers with boundaries and an orientation of inside and relation to emotions and below are some examples: outside. This orientation is also used for other physical objects. But also non-physical objects (e.g. events, actions, activities, states) can be understood by transforming them into physical objects with definite boundaries. - Body part idioms: Ăn no t c b ng, chân dày chân dép, put the arm on sb, be all ears, etc. - Animal idioms: Ăn như t m ăn r i, làm như mèo m a, act as a guinea pig, as blind as a bat, etc. 2.2.3. Idioms - Human feeling Idioms: 2.2.3.1. Definition of idioms +The terms in idioms have no relation to emotions: Như b t According to Cruse, “an idiom is an expression the meaning of which can not be inferred from the meaning of its parts” [8] ñư c vàng, quan th y ki n như ki n th y m , go through the roof, walk on air, etc. “An idiom is a number of words which, taken together, mean +The terms in idioms have relation to emotions: Bu n như something different from the individual words of the idiom when they cha ch t, vui như h i, frighten the life out of sb, happy as a flea in a stand alone” doghouse, etc. In Vietnamese, H [25] Lê offers the definition of idiom as follow; “An idiom is a word combination which has stable structure