A Cross-Linguistic Study On Similarity In Cognitive Metaphors

Similarity is a major aspect of metaphors and an important issue in the study of metaphors. More than two thousand years ago, Aristotle points out that to construct a proper metaphor is to find the similarity in different entities. The ability of finding similarities for sharp eye is the hallmark of genius. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in similarity in metaphors with the development of conceptual metaphors in cognitive linguistics. The investigation on similarity is becoming the key issue in the study of metaphors. Despite the fact that a great deal of research has been done on metaphors, similarity remains a mystery and very controversial issue.This thesis reviews and analyzes current views, theories and classifications of similarity first. Then it makes attempts to discover the principles and working mechanism underlying the use of metaphors. On the basis of a great number of Chinese and English metaphorical sentences, this thesis attempts to provide a new classification of similarity, which includes physical similarity, characteristic similarity, functional similarity, synaesthetic similarity, sensigenous similarity, action similarity, process similarity and structural similarity. In order to prove and explain the core function and principles of similarity in metaphors, this thesis cross-linguistically explores and summarizes the universalities of similarity in both Chinese metaphors and English metaphors. On the basis of the universalities, the author discusses reasons for the ways in which similarity in metaphors are manifested in the two languages. As an extension of the research of similarity, the author tentatively explores the significance of similarity in metaphorical thinking, analogical thinking and problem solving.