A Contrastive Study On Conceptual Metaphor Of Time In English And Chinese Lexicons

Since the 1970s, the study of metaphor not only became the research concern for linguists, but also inspired great interests for philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, and etc. Among multitudinous study achievements, the Conceptual Metaphor Theory by George Lakoff attracted the most attention. George Lakoff's theory believes that metaphor is the basis of mankind's cognition, thought, experience, speech and behavior. Metaphor is the basic means by which we live. Thus, the nature of metaphor can be understood like this: understanding and experiencing one kind of subject matter through another kind. Based on the Conceptual Metaphor Theory, especially the Conceptual Metaphor Theory by Lakoff, this thesis analyzes different metaphorical expressions of time both in English and Chinese. The thesis collects many English and Chinese metaphorical expressions and classifies them into several categories of conceptual metaphors about time. The research shows that metaphorical expressions of time have systematic interior structures, and metaphorical expressions of time in both Chinese and English cultures are similar in structure. As an abstract concept, time can be understood through a series of"source"domains, which indicates that metaphorical expressions of time and thought are the result of human cognition. Through studying conceptual metaphor, this thesis is helpful for deeply understanding English and Chinese lexicons, and has an instructive function to the Chinese and English linguistics to some extent.