Analysis On Discourse Function Of Metaphor

Discourse analysis is a new branch in linguistics. It probes the organization and structural function of text. After prolific investigations into metaphor over the past few years, the focus of metaphor research has shifted from lexical and syntactical levels to discoursal level. Although the role of metaphor in the analysis of discourse coherence has been recognized, most of current research are still concerned with the rhetorical function of metaphor in discourse. Although few of researches probe discourse function, most are based on English, few on Chinese.Metaphor is a kind of thought, as well as a way of constructing text. From language meaning and form, we research the discourse function of metaphor. On language meaning, the mapping from the source domain onto the target domain establish relation. The mapping has some features,which has special direction and takes place on part character. It includes frame type and content type. The reason of mapping is the similarity between the source domain and the target domain. The mapping constructs semantic relation of the metaphor text, which is covert net of constructing text. On language form, The cohesion chain in metaphor text is overt net of constructing text. The text of metaphor focuses on the centre metaphor because of the extending of metaphor. The whole text forms linearity relation, which is the cohesion chain. The chain has a specific form and struction.The covert net and overt net is contribute to coherence text.