An Analysis Of Idioms From The Perspective Of Conceptual Metaphor Theory

Based on the contemporary theory of metaphor (Lakoff, 1993), a cognitive view of metonymy (Radden & Kovecses, 1999), and three models of conceptual interaction between metaphor and metonymy (Ruiz de Mendoza, 2003), this thesis makes an effort in exploring the cognitive-semantic mechanisms behind both English and Chinese idioms. Traditional view and cognitive view of idioms are introduced and compared in order to demonstrate the superiority of a cognitive approach in analyzing idioms. Detailed analysis of collected idioms has clearly illustrated that a large proportion of idioms are at least partially motivated by conceptual metaphors, metonymies, or the combination of metaphor and metonymy.The categorization of metaphors by Lakoff and Johnson is adopted in the analysis of idioms motivated by conceptual metaphors. However it should be made clear that the categories (structural, orientational, and ontological metaphor) are not mutually exclusive. In this thesis, the three types of conceptual metaphors are discussed respectively as to how they are related to the motivation of idioms. Metonymy is also analyzed systematically as an important cognitive mechanism. It is observed that most of the 15 types of metonymy-producing relationships proposed by Radden & Kovecses exist behind idioms. Some of the 15 types are specified for their individual role in the idiom interpretation. Metaphtonymy, too, is deeply involved in the motivation of idioms. It is demonstrated that there are various ways in which metaphor and metonymy may interact in idioms. It has long been argued that most metaphors have a metonymic base; however, the analysis of some idioms shows that sometimes metaphor has to be activated first so as to trigger the realization of metonymy afterwards.To fully understand the semantic motivation of idioms, we have to integrate cultural factors to the cognitive approach adopted in this study. It is generally claimed now that metaphors that appear in language seem to vary from culture to culture. Some metaphors seem to be universal, while others prove to be cultural-specific. Ear metaphors involved in the motivation of idioms both in English and Chinese are studied systematically and found to reflect cultural differences in this thesis.