Russian Time Concept Metaphor Research

This study is focusing on temporal conceptual metaphors and its expression in Russian language based on the conceptual metaphor theory.As the basic form of existence,time is always an important topic in natural and social sciences.Because of its high level of abstraction,in every language,time category has its own verbal description — metaphor.According to cognitive linguistics,metaphor is not only a phenomenon of language or stylistic device,but also the basic methods of cognition of the world.In languages temporal metaphor is systematic and conceptual.It involves individual cognitive experiences and thought patterns,even national culture and mentality.Every culture has its own private,native or borrowed conceptual system of time,which is significant in the internal cultural context and intercultural communication.Through the prism of conceptual metaphors of time,we can observe how Russians learn about the concept of “time” and understand the world around us.Based on the conceptual metaphor theory,this study help us classify the temporal concepts as eight types,describe three forms of conceptual metaphors and build two types of cognitive models of time.In addition,we analyze different translation strategies for different occasions.The study of conceptual metaphors of time reveals the main characteristics of temporality,cognitive laws for verbal phenomenon and mental activities.With the help of the research we can explain the national mentality and its reflection in the language,we can understand the deep meaning of metaphors in the Russian language,we can overcome cultural barriers to make correct judgment and sentence and stimulate effective communication in intercultural context.This study has important theoretical significance and practical value.This thesis consists of introduction,three chapters and conclusion.The introduction gives an overview about the different stages of the metaphor theory.In this part we discuss the theoretical and practical significance,the main content and the basic structure.In the first chapter we explain the conceptual metaphor theory and analyze the major issues of this theory,including object and subject of this study,the main characteristics and main types of metaphors.In the second chapter we analyze the representations of temporal conceptual metaphors in Russian language.In the first section we classify the concepts of time according to their functions as parametric concepts,age,spatio-temporal concepts,monetary concepts,ethical concepts,axiological concepts,eschatological concepts and activity.In the second subsection we analyze the orientational,ontological and structural metaphors of time.In the third subsection we build two cognitive models of time metaphors: static and dynamic.In the third chapter the aim of the study is to reveal the practical value of the conceptual metaphor theory of time in translation.There are three factors influencing transformation of metaphors in translation and two kinds of strategies of translation: literal and free translation.In the conclusion we summarize the study.