Reflection Of The Culture Of The Modern Chinese Yu Words

In modern Chinese,there are some words and phrases which don't originally refer to mankind and just get their meanings by means of metaphor and metonymy;there are another some words and phrases which originally refer to mankind and also get their meanings evolved by means of metaphor and metonymy,nevertheless,the new deviation of meanings still refers to mankind.This thesis regards the two kinds of words and phrases which get their meanings referred to mankind by means of metaphor and metonymy as figurative words and phrases referring to mankind.On the basis of introduction of the cognitive linguistics theory of metaphor and metonymy,and wide definition of words and phrases,the definition of modern Chinese figurative words and phrases referring to mankind is as follows:Modern Chinese figurative words and phrases,metonymy words and phrases and multi-vocal words and phrases containing figurative or metonymy meanings,which get their meanings referred to mankind by means of metaphor and metonymy.There have been fragmentary studies on the cultural connotation of figurative words and phrases referring to mankind.Based on the previous studies,introducing the cognitive linguistics theory of metaphor and metonymy,adopting wide definition of culture,this thesis makes a quantitative analysis on the 5,246 pieces of pertinent language data collected from The Contemporary Chinese Dictionary(the 2005 5^th Edition),probes generally and deeply into the material,institutional,and psychological cultural-phenomena carried by figurative words and phrases referring to mankind.The second section of this thesis focuses on the material cultural-phenomenon reflected by modern Chinese figurative words and phrases referring to mankind via raiment,food and drink,buildings,vehicles and utensils;the third section of this thesis focuses on the institutional cultural-phenomenon carried by modern Chinese figurative words and phrases referring to mankind via kinship terms,marriage and funeral customs, military affairs,drama and religion;the fourth section of this thesis focuses on the psychological cultural-phenomenon embodied by modern Chinese figurative words and phrases referring to mankind via modes of thinking,aesthetic consciousness and conception of values.This research will provides a window through which people can gain a comprehensive view of the cultural connotation of modern Chinese figurative words and phrases referring to mankind, consequently,it will arouse an extensive attention on this linguistic cultural-phenomenon,and promote the understanding,inheriting and carrying forward of Chinese traditional culture. Therefore,it is held that this research does have fairish cultural value and significance,and to some extent,it will be helpful to teaching Chinese as a foreign language,intercultural language comparison,edit of Chinese dictionaries and the science of translation.