Metaphor Analysis Of “Couple Relationship” In Articles On Counseling Websites

Couple relationship articles deploy metaphors to depict different scenarios of coupleship and hence serve as useful discoursal materials for metaphor research on couple relating.By examining metaphors identified in such articles on counseling websites,this study intends to reveal how people make sense of the concept—couple relationship(CR).Scholars have investigated various metaphors with which people use to understand and describe romantic relationships,discovering a variety of source domains.However,most of the previous research merely focused on the aspect of “LOVE” feeling in romantic relationships,giving little thought to CR itself.Aiming at uncovering the conceptualization of CR itself and the link among source domains,this study set out to examine the source domains used to construct the concept of CR in different languages and compared the similarities and differences in source domains.Based on a comparative analysis of 20 articles that were drawn from the official webpage of a counseling website in America and China respectively,this study found a range of source domains,which fall into two categories: 1)CR as a unit;2)CR as a dyadic dynamic.First,when CR is conceptualized as a unit,major source domains are shared by both Chinese and English data,including MOVEMENT OF UNIT,BUSINESS,WAR,HEALTH,LIVING ORGANISM,and BUILDINGS.As to the distribution of source domains in each language,MOVEMENT OF UNIT was the most salient source in the English data,and WAR was the most salient one in the Chinese data.Meanwhile,as for the same source domain,two languages had apparent differences in utilizing particular concepts in that domain.For example,while English employed the image of UP-DOWN MOVEMENT to depict CR,Chinese data preferred BALANCED-UNBALANCED image.Second,when CR is constructed as a dyadic dynamic,the concepts in source domain NOURISH AND SAVOR can only be found in the Chinese data.The other three source domains—SUPPLY AND DEMAND,CONNECT,and REMAINING KINDS OF RELATIONS are shared by both languages.As to the distribution of source domains in this category,the source domain of SUPPLY AND DEMAND was the most salient.And two languages showed a roughly similar saliency of the concepts derived from the same source domain.After the comparative analysis of similarities and differences in the source domains,this study went further to find three cognitive patterns underpinning the conceptualization of CR.They are drawing boundaries,realizing value,and building reciprocity.This study reveals that there is a propensity for people to seek goals and practicality in the current couple relating.Entering couple relationships,on one hand,becomes a way for a couple to achieve their common goal,and on the other hand,a constant negotiation between two individuals.The present research then hopes to provide people with new insights into couple relating.Future research can expand to other kinds of human relationships so as to observe whether there exist similar patterns in relating and to explore how people's sense-making of relating is affected.