A Cognitive Approach To Reverse Metaphor

Reverse metaphor, in Chinese,"倒喻", in which the source domain appears before the target domain, is traditionally regarded as a figure of speech. The present thesis aims to carry out an exploratory research into reverse metaphor within the theoretical framework of the conceptual metaphor theory so as to put forward conceptual reverse metaphor, and analyze a classical Chinese poem, The Everlasting Regret (《长恨歌》) by Bai Juyi (白居易), from the point of view of conceptual reverse metaphor in order to identify and verify the significance of conceptual reverse metaphor as a way of thinking. It is hoped that this research will deepen the studies on conceptual metaphor, as well as contribute to the Chinese traditional theory of metaphor. The findings are as follows:Firstly, this thesis puts forward conceptual reverse metaphor. The philosophical basis of conceptual reverse metaphor is experientialism. By means of putting easier and familiar concept—the source domain, before the comparatively difficult and unfamiliar concept—the target domain, conceptual reverse metaphor is in accordance with the process of human cognition, i.e. from the easier and more familiar concepts to those more difficult and unfamiliar ones. It is this cognitive consonance that provides the possibility for conceptual reverse metaphor. On the basis of the conceptual metaphor theory, the thesis classifies conceptual reverse metaphors into three categories: structural reverse metaphor, orientational reverse metaphor, and ontological reverse metaphor.Secondly, the analysis of conceptual reverse metaphors in the poem of The Everlasting Regret achieves the understanding of the theme of the poem from a new perspective. The specific social and cultural system influences people's experiences, thus has an impact on people's way of thinking. Conceptual reverse metaphor, as a way of thinking, reveals certain features of the specific society and culture. Poetry is considered one of the representatives of a society and culture. Therefore, the analysis of conceptual reverse metaphors helps to understand the poetry.Last but not least, from the cognitive analysis of conceptual reverse metaphors in the poem, we find that in most conceptual reverse metaphors, the concept of human body or human emotion is frequently employed as the target domain, with definite natural substance or UP/ DOWN orientation as the source domain. On the basis of bodily experiences, humans attach great importance to their own positions and their relationships with the natural world as is shown in conceptual reverse metaphors. To such a great extent, conceptual reverse metaphor, as a way of thinking, helps with human conceptualization of the world.