A Study On Life Metaphors In Frog From The Perspective Of Conceptual Integration Theory

Chinese writer Mo Yan has reached the world literature summit for his profound literary attainments,which makes him the first person in China who won the Nobel Prize in literature.In his work Frog,he uses magic realism to integrate folk tales,history and modern history.His language contains a large number of metaphors,which are not easy for readers to understand,especially the life metaphor.Therefore,it is very necessary to study the life metaphor in this novel.Based on the conceptual integration theory,this thesis studies the construction of life metaphors in Frog through the construction of mental spaces and the analysis of different mappings.Firstly,the author collects 50 life metaphors according to the five-step procedure for data identification.And through the establishment of Input Space and generic space,the space mapping and the formation of the synthetic space,the meaning of life metaphors in the novel is constructed on the basis of conceptual integration theory.Secondly,documentary method and deductive method are used in this thesis to analyze the 50 life metaphors which can be analyzed by four metal spaces,including Input Space I,Input Space II,generic space and blended space.And according to the different interactions of these spaces,the author classified the 50 life metaphors into 14 mirror,14 single-scope,10 simplex and 12 double-scope networks.Finally,this thesis emphasizes the possibility of understanding life metaphors from the perspective of synthetic space,and provides necessary reference for interpreting the connotation of life metaphors through the integration process of composition,completion and elaboration,based on the different structures,background knowledge,cognitive and cultural models,contextual information,and the compression of vital relations in Input Spaces,such as role-value relation,identity and category relation,part-whole and intentionality relation as well as analogy relation.The main findings of this thesis can be stated from the following aspects:(1)The five-step procedure for data identification can be used to select the life metaphors in the novel Frog.(2)Conceptual integration theory can be used to analyze life metaphor,including the construction of its meaning,the classification of the integrated network,and the compression of the vital relations.The practice of the cognition of life metaphors also illustrates the explanatory power of conceptual integration theory to the study of metaphor in literary works,and enlarges the case study of metaphor in a certain extent.(3)The life metaphor in Frog is mainly shown as the mapping relations of "frog","baby" and "life".Meanwhile,it is further excavated that Mo Yan makes a rational and deep thinking about these elements of life.And a series of problems,such as the root of supreme life,the necessity and value of life and the salvation of life,are presented in a realistic and sensible way.Although different individuals may have different understandings on life metaphors,the analysis of life metaphors in the novel helps to enhance the understanding and use of verbal metaphors in native culture,and promote the efficiency and quality of verbal communication.