Comparative Study Of Metaphor In Chinese And English Language

As a widely used figure of speech, metaphor plays an important role in our daily communication, especially in literature, for it makes our expression more vivid and moving. However, metaphor in different languages has its own feature. In three aspects, the essay expounds the similarities and differences in metaphor between Chinese and English. Firstly, the essay compares the two basic types of it, simile and metaphor. On the basis of explaining they are similar to each other in structure and function, it mostly discusses the differences between them. The essay points out the differences both in the ways of expressing and in their internal structures by comparing and analyzing their different sorts and the ways they are used. Secondly, it analyzes vehicle's styles and the corresponding relation between vehicle and the metaphoric meaning. It puts forth the similarities and differences between Chinese and English vehicles in 5 aspects, words, phrases, simple sentences, complex sentences and paragraphs. Based on this, the essay analyzes different corresponding relations between vehicle and the metaphoric meaning both in Chinese and in English language and the writer also compares "Er Bing" and "Duo Bian" between the two languages, which are put forward by Mr Qian Zhongshu. At last, the essay elaborates on the historical and cultural background which causes these differences and it arrives at a conclusion that different natural surroundings,diverse traditions of history and culture, varied social activities and customs cause the differences in styles and expressing ways of metaphor.between Chinese and English...