Meaning Construction Of Metaphors Based On Conceptual Blending Theory

Metaphor is a pervasive phenomenon in our life. The language can never be so colorful without it. With a history of more than two thousand years, the studies of metaphor can be traced back to Aristotle with the representative works Rhetorics. Metaphor is regarded as a figure of speech and a pure linguistic phenomenon. However, as the cognitive science develops, metaphor is studied from an angle of cognition. Modern linguists come to agree that metaphor is cognitive in nature. But few go deep into the question on how the meaning of metaphor is constructed and the reasoning mechanism.The Conceptual Blending Theory breaks through the limitations of metaphor studies and lays a solid foundation for the meaning construction of metaphor. The Conceptual Blending Theory has a complicated theoretical frame and a system of flexible operating mechanism. Blending is a dynamic and creative cognitive process. Based on Conceptual Blending Theory, the paper analyzes the dynamic blending process of metaphor of four types according to the blending networks and proves the explanatory power of Conceptual Blending Theory. According to the case studies, context, culture and individual cognitive abilities play a crucial role in the meaning construction of metaphor. They will influence the appropriate meaning construction. Therefore, the paper puts forward suggestive measures including enhancing metaphor competence, cultivating cultural awareness and making full use of context to facilitate learners'understanding of metaphor and hopes that some guidance can be offered for the future language teaching and learning.