A Cognitive Study Of Motivations For The Unequal Numbers Of Non-conventional Metaphors In Literary Writing And Practical Writing

This paper is devoted to investigating the cognitive motivations behind non-conventional metaphors in literary writing and practical writing. First, it discusses systematically the differences between conventional metaphor and non-conventional metaphor and come up with their definitions. Then it introduces a survey conducted by scholars at home and abroad to reveal the fact that the number of non-conventional metaphors in literary writing is much larger than that in practical writing.As for the cognitive motivations for non-conventional metaphors in literary writing, the traditional rhetoric explanation is that metaphor is a figure of speech. This paper tries to explain this phenomenon from the perspective of cognitive linguistics. It takes advantage of Conceptual Blending Theory (here after CB) to explore the causes from the angles of heterometaphoricity, communication efficiency requirements, different described subjects and different writing purposes.Of course, the Conceptual Blending Theory is not employed directly here. The paper takes a close look at the development of this theory in China. It summarizes and compares the improvements made by some Chinese scholars. It finds that the improved Conceptual Blending Theory, SNP by Wang Wenbin (2005) is more explanatory. SNP is Self-negotiation Principle. It governs the whole constructing process and interpreting process of metaphor. SNP exerts its influence on three cognitive mechanisms: Linking, Washing and Converging. Linking and Converging take the place of Generic space and Blended space respectively. A new Washing mechanism is added to the new diagram. SNP puts more emphasis on the subjectivity of addresser and addressee in metaphor construction and interpretation. It unfolds the detailed construction and interpretation process of non-conventional metaphor. Especially it explains clearly how heterometaphoricity comes into existence.According to SNP, non-conventional metaphor is open to creative and multiple interpretations, which can be called heterometaphoricity. Heterometaphoricity makes literary writing more attractive. But it harms the accuracy of practical writing. The interpretation of non-conventional metaphor goes through three cognitive mechanisms, which in general cost more energy and longer time. Non-conventional metaphor can be used by writers to express something abstract in literary writing and to achieve some purposes such as allegory, irony and so on. These are the cognitive motivations for non-conventional metaphors in literary writing and practical writing.