Discourse Functions Of Cognitive Metaphor In Poems

Metaphor research is classic and new. It is classic, because we have been exploring this issue for more than 2,000 years in history. It is new, because metaphor research has undergone its processes as follows: rhetoric---semantics---cognitive metaphor--- multi-disciplinary research on metaphor. Therefore, research on metaphor has been shifted from the initial traditional rhetoric to contemporary cognitive linguistics. In the past, metaphor has been viewed as a language deviation whereas metaphor research has been a salient issue in school of cognitive linguistics. At present, the metaphor is not only a linguistic phenomenon, but also it is a cognitive ability for our human to perceive our body and objective world, and it is a kind of thought.In past three decades, Metaphor research in Cognitive Linguistics has obtained much progress, mainly at word, clause, and sentence level. Comparing with words and sentences, the larger level units -----discourse level, metaphor study have shown significant neglect and inadequacies. After all, construction of meanings is largely attributable to the discourse. As a strong thinking and cognitive tools, metaphor from theory to practice, can be reflected in every level of language, not only in individual word, phrase, sentence, it can also be extended and expanded at discourse level. Research on metaphor at discourse level, has broken the traditional metaphor restrictions, which focus in the vocabulary, phrase, sentence. The present research has viewed metaphor as a powerful cognitive tool, and a discourse organizing strategy. In a broader language environment, we pursue for the significance for the formation mechanism of metaphor, we view metaphor as the window for the sake of human function.Poetry is viewed as a special literary genre, which is closely linked to metaphor. Metaphor is the life principle and organizing material for poetry. The construction of poetry discourse is largely due to the use of metaphor. Poems are selected as my material in this thesis for exploring the discourse function of cognitive metaphor in poetry. It has achieved combination of cognitive metaphor theory with linguistic theory. To examine the discourse cognitive functions of metaphor in poems can deepen our understanding for poetry. At the same time, it further enriches the content of analysis study, expands the scope of analysis study.The nature of metaphor itself, that is, mappings from the source domain to target domain endow metaphor the discourse functions. Metaphor is in essence understood one thing by another thing. In poetry discourse, we always understand the complex metaphors by means of simple metaphors. Poets combine these daily and simple concepts into complex metaphors poetry with interesting ways. That is the metaphor discourse cognitive function. On the basis of cognitive mappings between two domains and the cognitive basis of similarity, we add and elaborate implied meaning, and then we form a relatively complete expression and understanding, metaphor reasoning makes poetry language cohesion and coherence. As a way of human cognition, metaphor plays a major role in constructing and organizing the poetry with the system mappings and metaphoricity. The similarities and innovative of metaphor have created a literary imagery in poetry. Metaphor makes the theme of poetry fuzzy and contradictory interpretation of the dual role. Through textual metaphor, the poets tactfully express their feelings and realize the metaphor into entire text.Metaphor understanding is affected by many factors and constraints. Metaphors are highly dependent on context, whether it is semantic selection, or the filling of vacancies and the implied semantic meaning, they are all closely related to context. Philosophy of metaphor is based on the experientialist. Our body experience can not do without a specific physical, social and cultural environment. The metaphor is closely related to national history, society and culture. To explore the universality and particularity of metaphor in cross-culture is the key to the metaphor study and to cultivate our metaphorical ability.