A Study On The Differences Of Metaphors Between Artistic Style And Scientific Style

Taking quantitative and qualitative analysis as a combining method,this paper describes the differences of metaphors in language form, semantic feature and rhetoric value between artistic style and scientific style on the base of 1,700,000 word language materials.The density of metaphors in artistic style is obviously higher than that is in scientific style. In the aspect of language form, the proportion of similes in artistic style is higher than that is in scientific style, while proportions of metaphors and metonymy in scientific style are both higher than artistic style. Metaphors in artistic style mainly perform as simple sentences, while metaphors in scientific style mainly perform as words, phrases, comprehensive sentences and ex-comprehensive sentences. The structure of phrase metaphors in artistic style is different from scientific style. In the aspect of semantic feature, metaphors of matters are more than metaphors of logical relationships or changing conditions in scientific style which is totally different from artistic style. The symmetry between tenor and vehicle in metaphors of artistic style is higher than scientific style. Differences are also found in the arrangement of semantic feature in metaphors as well as means of producing similarity between artistic style and scientific style. In the aspect of rhetoric value, metaphors in artistic style prefer to create artistic images, while metaphors in scientific style prefer to help people to understand or to explain objective things.This paper holds that the differences of metaphors in language form, semantic feature and rhetoric value between artistic style and scientific style are the effect on figures of speech left by stylistic context.