Representing Metaphorical Information In Foreigner-oriented Chinese-English Learner's Dictionaries

Metaphorical competence is one of the most important abilities in second language acquisition.However,due to the cultural variation of metaphorical information in different languages,CFL learners have trouble in understanding and using Chinese metaphors properly.As a tool to help CFL learners learn Chinese,foreigner-oriented Chinese-English learner's dictionary(CELDs)are supposed to include metaphorical information.Therefore,the present study aims to explore the systematic representation of metaphorical information in foreigner-oriented CELDs.First,the present study selects two mainstream foreigner-oriented CELDs and Macmillan English-Chinese Dictionary for Advanced Learners(MECD)to conduct a comparative investigation about the representation of metaphorical information in present learner's dictionaries.It is found that compared with MECD,the mainstream foreigner-oriented Chinese-English dictionaries are more deficient,with metaphorical information only displayed in the microstructure.In contrast,MECD introduces metaphor into the structure of the dictionary.It incorporates the creative conceptual metaphor boxes and presents the metaphorical information in a relatively systematic way.However,several drawbacks of the representation of metaphorical information in MECD are detected,which should be avoided in future foreigner-oriented CELDs' compilation practice.Then,investigation from two aspects: the morphological features of metaphorical words in Chinese and English and metaphorical words in different semantic fields is conducted to find out the similarities and differences between metaphorical words in Chinese and English.It is found that Chinese metaphorical vocabulary mainly consists of metaphorical compounds and some single metaphorical words.While in English,the majority of metaphorical words are single metaphorical words and derivative metaphorical words.The comparative analysis of several commonmetaphorical words in three main semantic fields shows that the metaphorical words in Chinese and English share some similar metaphorical usages but there are also plenty of differences.To help CFL learners better understand Chinese metaphor,the similarities and differences deserve to be incorporated in foreigner-oriented CELDs.Finally,under the guidance of Conceptual Metaphor Theory,a tentative model to represent the metaphorical information systematically in foreigner-oriented CELDs is proposed,and some strategies are put forward based on the Prototype Theory and Language Transfer Theory in the macro-,micro-,and medio-structure of a dictionary.By optimizing the sense division and arrangement of polysemous words,adding introductions to basic information of metaphor and similarities and differences between Chinese and English metaphorical words,adding metaphor boxes,adding radical metaphor box for Chinese single metaphorical words,adding cultural note,etc.,the metaphorical information is incorporated in different structures of the dictionary.These systematic strategies are sure to contribute to the lexicographical compiling practice of foreigner-oriented CELDs and help CFL learners to better understand and use Chinese metaphors.