A Comparative Study Of The Metaphors Of Taste Between English And Chinese

Traditionally metaphor is considered as a matter of language and a figure of speech while cognitive linguists view it as a cognitive phenomenon. Metaphor is an indispensable tool for us to construct the outside world. Our ordinary conceptual system by means of which we live, think and act is fundamentally metaphorical in nature. Metaphors are powerful tools for us to conceptualize abstract categories.A number of studies have been made adopting the cognitive approach to metaphor in China and abroad. However, there are few studies involve in metaphors of taste. Given these factors, based on the analysis of a large amount of linguistic data from English and Chinese in terms of metaphors of taste, this thesis takes up metaphors of taste as its research topic and aims to explore the cognitive basis and features, the similarities and differences of the metaphorical extensions of metaphors of taste. In addition, this paper also discusses the comparison result.Based on the conceptual metaphor and previous studies, this research proceeds a systematic investigation on the data of taste perceptual process, taste perceptual function, taste perceptual organ and taste physical condition words. This research discovers that taste perceptual process:"尝(chang)"and"taste"are mainly applied to the cognitive and material world domain; Taste perceptual function:"味"and"taste"are generally mapped onto the cognitive and affective domain; Taste perceptual organ:"舌(she)"and"tongue"are generally mapped onto the language domain; Taste perceptual physical condition words:"酸(suan)"and"sour","甜(tian)"and"sweet","苦(ku)"and"bitter","辣"and"peppery"are mainly mapped onto the person and mental domain and mapped across other sensory modalities. Exploring deeply, this paper discusses the similarities and differences of metaphors of taste in Chinese and English. Generally speaking, similarities are more pervasive than its differences. The similarity reflects metaphors of taste are primarily rooted in common human bodily experience. The similarity is also motivated by the physical and physiological foundation and cognitive universality. Meanwhile, there still exist great differences: the poverty of mapping, different elaborations of conceptual metaphors and varied interpretation of the same metaphor. The differences are largely due to cultural differences and thinking mode. The universality and diversity of metaphors of taste reflect human beings'same physical and psychological foundation, cognitive universality and their varieties in different cultures.This thesis makes a relatively complete study of metaphors of taste from the cognitive perspective. On the basis of comparative study in English and Chinese, this research reinforces some theories of the contemporary cognitive approach to metaphor and metaphors of taste are characterized by cognitive universality and cultural relativity. This research, to some extent supplements the study of taste metaphors.