A Cognitive Approach To Metaphor's Role In Intercultural Communication

In order to improve intercultural communication between Chinese and English-speaking countries, this study, utilizing cognitive linguistics as its theoretical framework, was designed to explore metaphor's universally-existing cognitive value. Two databases were self-developed from the most well-known works from Li Po in Chinese literature, Percy Shelley in British literature, and Walter Whitman in American literature. The research method employed was in-depth content analysis with grounded theory methodology. Three basic metaphorical themes, which exist in both Chinese and English texts, were worked out from the data analysis: (a) the abstract are projected to the concrete; (b) objects are projected to human beings; and (c) objects are projected to objects. Therefore, the cognitive value that metaphor carries is proved to be universally shared by both English and Chinese-speaking cultures; for both eastern and western cultures, human mind is inherently empirical and human language is metaphorically structured. Thus, metaphor's strong implication for intercultural communication, whose mission is to look for common place from different cultures, is revealed. Also, this study re-emphasizes the expressive function that metaphor owns which suggests important literary value. Last but not least, due to its unique cognitive role, metaphor always acts prior to linguistic rules such as grammar and it could be applied to language acquisition, another important inquiry of intercultural communication.