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1、Conceptual Metaphors of Happiness between English and Chinese|曩|j|蝴0000曹祥英(南昌理工学院,江西南昌330013)r一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一1Abstract:TheConceptualmetaphorsofHappinessbetweenEnglishandChinesearecon-trastedfromacognitiveperspectivebasedoncorpus.Afterdataanalysis,somesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenEn
2、glishHappinessmetaphorsandChineseHappinessmetaphorsarefound.Theconclusionisthatthesimilaritybetweenthemisbasedonthesamebodilyexperience,whilethedifferenceslieondifferentculturalmodels.Keywords:happinessmetaphor;corpus;bodilyexperience;culturalmodels【中图分类号】H030【文献标识码】A文章编号】10062831(2012)02一O1035doi:1
3、0.3969/j.issn.10062831.2012.O1.026L一一.J1.IntroductionMetaPhorisanessentiaImeansofthinkingandacommoncognitivephenomenonwhichispervasiveandessentialinlanguageandthought.Humanbeingsunderstandthesurroundingworldbyusingthisperceptualandconceptualizingtoo1.AgreatdealofresearchonconceptuaImetaPhorshavebeen
4、donebymanyChineseschoIars.ShuDingfang(1996,1998)exploredthenatureandworkingmechanismofmetaphor.ShuDingfang(2009)expectedtodoresearchoncontrastingbetweenEnglishandChinesebasedoncorpus.LinShuwu(1998)illustratedtheconceptualmetaphorofanger.Inthispaper,theauthortriestoconductatentativestudyoncontrasting
5、conceptualmetaphorofHappinessbetweenEngIishandChinese.TheChinesedataismainlyfromChineseCorpus.2.MetaphorMetaphorhaslongbeenconsideredasasubjecttobestudiedwithintherealmof收稿日期:20111125:修改稿:20111130literatureorrhetoric.Inthepastfewdecades,however,theinterestinmetaphorhasshiftedtoanewaspect.Theturningp
6、ointismarkedbyLakoffandJohnsonsworkMetaphorsWeLiveBy(1980).Theyproposedthatmetaphorshouldbecalledafigureofthoughtratherthanafigureofspeech.Metaphoriscommonineverydaylife,notonlyinlanguagebutalsoinourthinkingandacting.Therefore,theyholdtheviewthatourconceptualsystemislargelymetaphorica1.Withthedevelo
7、pmentofcivilization.humanbeingsarefamiliarwiththeirbodies;anditisnaturalforthemtorefertosomethingthatisnotpartofthehumanbodyintermsofhumanbody.ThemainpointofthemetaPhoricaIparadigmisthatweuseourbodilybased,concreteexoeriencestointerpretandencodenon-bodilybasedabstractphenomena(Lakoff&Johnson,198
8、0:3).Whenwedoso,weareusingconceptualmetaphors.ConceptualmetaphorsareoftensoembeddedinlanguageandwaysofthinkingabouttheworldthatwedonotconsciouslyrealizewearestructuringCrazyEnglishTeachers103疯狂荚强mmi2o12年第1期一(2月号)theworldinaparticularway.Theirtheoryhasshedanewlightonthestudyofmetaphorbyrevealingthere
9、lationbetweenmetaphorandhumanthought.initiatingacognitiveapproachtothestudyofmetaphor.3.HappinessmetaphorsbetweenEnglishandChinese31HappinessmetaphorsinEnglishThenumberofc0nVentionalizedexpressionsabouthappinessisconsiderableinEnglish.Thefollowingaresomecommonlyusedexamples:(1)Wehadtocheerhimup.(2)T
10、hatboostedmyspirits.(3)Imsixfeetofftheground.(4)Afterfinishingthetask,1waswalkingonairfordays.(5)Hercheekwasglowingwithjoy.(6)Nothingtoworryabout,cheerup.(7)Thesightfilledthemwithjoy.(8)Shecouldntcontainherjoyanylonger.AmongtheIinguisticexpressionsthathaMetodowithhaPPiness,wecanfindseveraIconceptuaI
11、metaPhors.Themajorone,proposedbyLakoffandJohnson(1980)isorientatIonal:HAPPYISUP.Thefirsttwosentenceslistedabovejustbelongtothistype.Moreexpressionscanbeillustratedunderthisconceptualmetaphor.(1)lmfeelingup.(2)Theywereinhighspirits.(3)ThinkingaboutheralwaysgivesmeaIift.(4)Myspiritsrose.TheseexDressio
12、nsup-downschema.Weareineffectrelatedtohumanshaveuprightbodies.Therefore.UPunusuallypossessesapositivevaluationofemotionalstatesaswellasphysicalstates(Connotationsofenjoymentandlivelinessmaybefoundinhighspirits,highlife).Anotherimportantmetaphorconcerning104CrazyEngfishTeachershappinessis:BEINGHAPPYI
13、SBElNGOFFTHEGRoUND.Itissaidthatthismetaphormaybepartiallyrelatedtobirds.Birdsaregenerallyconsideredassymbolsoffreedom,andthusconcernedwithhappiness.Someotherinstancesofthistypeinclude:(1)1wasflyinghigh.(2)Shewasoncloudnine.(3)1wasfloating.(4)lmflyingintheclouds.(5)Heseemstobeinthesky.Besidesthosetwo
14、conceptualmetaphors,HAPPINESSISLIGHTisalsoanimportantoneunderlyingmanyexpressions.(1)Whenheheardthenews,shelitup.(2)Nothingtoworryabout,brightup.(3)Heradiatesjoy.(4)Shehasasunnysmile.(5)Youarethesunshineinmylife.(6)Hewasgleaming.(7)Shewasshiningwithjoy.(8)Suddenlyasmilelit(up)herface.(9)Thesunshinei
15、sinherface.(YuNing,1998:61,Again.theseexpressionsregardourbodilyexperienceasourreasoning.Asweallknow,whenapersonishappy,thelooksoftenbecomebrighter.Thushappinessusuallyisconcernedwiththebrightness.TheIightappearstoderivefromtheinternaIenergycharacteristicofahappypersonfibid.:62).Thefourthmetaphorist
16、hatHAPPINESSoRJoYlSAFLUlDINACoNTAlNER.Theemotionofhappinessisconsideredasthehotfluidinsideaclosedcontainer.(1)Wewerefullofjoy.(2)Thesightfilledthemwithjoy.(3)Joywelledupinsideher.(4)Shecouldntcontainherjoyanylonger.(ibid.)SinceemotionsalmosthaveanoutwardasPectaswell,mostobviousIY,theirexpressioninbe
17、havior.Thetypicalreactionstoemotionshelpexpressconceptsofemotionsinametonymicfashion.NowonderthereoftenexistsasystemofmetonymicexDressionsinthelanguage,whichstrictlyfollowsthegeneralmetonymicprinciplethatphysioIogicaIeffectsofanemotionstandsfortheemotion.Here,theemotionofhappinesshasitslarrupingoutw
18、ardbehavioralreactions,suchasJUMPING,DANCING,SMILlNGANDBRIGHTEYES,whichyieldmanymetonymicexpressionsinEnglishasfollows:JUMPlNG(1)Hejumpedforhappiness.(2)Shewasleapingwithjoy.DANCING(1)Weweredancingwithjoy.(2)Theyallhadaballattheparty.SMlLING(1)Shewassmilingwithhappiness.(2)Theywereallsmiles.REACTloN
19、SINEYES(1)Amusementgleamedinhiseyes.(2)HiseyesgIintedwhenshesaythemoney.(3)Hiseyeswereshining.(4)Hereyesweresparklinglikediamonds.(Kovecses,1991:2946)3.2HAPPINESSmetaphorsinChineseChineseseemstosharethemajorconceptualmetaphorswithEnglish.(YuNing,1998:63).IntheoPinionofChinese,高(theupwardorientation)
20、alsodemonstratesapositiveevaluation,suchas高品质,高人,高论,高尚,兴高采烈.Sincehappinessisapositiveemotionprovidingpeoplewithmorevitality,itoftengoeshandinhandwithup.TheorientationalmetaphorHAPPYlSUPincIudesaIargegrouPofconventionalexpressionsinChinese:0(1)人人眉飞色舞,个个兴高采烈.(2)他高兴极了.(3)船上的游客兴致高昂.(4)回顾整个活动过程,现场气氛热烈,来宾
21、情绪高扬.(5)他得意扬扬.ThoseexpressionsfromChinesefurthersuppotheclaimthatmetaphoricalorientationsarenotarbitrary.buthaveabasisinthephysicaIandcuIturalexperience.fLakoff&Johnson,1980)ThesecondconcePtuaImetaPhorinEnglish:BEINGHAPPYISBEINGOFFTHEGROUND.IsitapplicabletoChinese高兴?Among1000examplesentences,onl
22、yoneexampleshowsBEINGHAPPYISBElNGOFFTHEGROUND.Forexample:(1)看远山白雪皑皑,眼前绿野沃然,心就和车一样,兴高采烈地飞起来.ThisindicatesthatBElNGHAPPYISBEINGOFFTHEGROUNDdoesnotseemtobeuniversalinChineseowingtoourChineseconMentionaImodeofthought.ThereisaChinesesaying:脚踏实地,whichmeansbeearnestanddown-to-eaCh.Thus,beingoffthegroundisc
23、onsideredasbeingoutofself-controlandisnotunsatisfactory.Itisnotmappedpositivelyontohappiness,butnegativelyontocomplacency.Forexample.whenwesay他飘飘然起来(Heisfloating.),weindicatethatthepersontakesprideinhimselfthathehaslosthissenses.Therefore,beingsustainedoffthegroundisnotsodesirableinChinaasinEnglish.
24、HaPPinessinEnglishisaIsoPicturedintermsoflightorbrightness.HAPPlNESSISLlGHTmetaPhoraIsoaccordswiththeconceptualizationofhappinessinChinese,whichisdescribedbysuchexamPIesasfoIlows:(1)听到自己将被提升为局长,他喜形于色.(2)他容光焕发,喜气洋洋.CrazyEnglishTeachers105霸擅曩湖倩嘲西蕊2D7筹7期f,2月号誊孽磐鬟磐|:(3)他喜笑颜开.(4)工人吃着可口的饭莱,笑逐颜开.Itisworthn
25、oticingherethat颜in(3)and(4)reallymeansbothcolorandfaceorratherhappyglowingfaceinChinese,whichisalwaysusedasymmetricallyinahappybutneverunhappysense.Thus,wecansay笑颜(smngface),butnot哭颜(cryingface).Moreover,ChinesesharessimilaritywithEnglishintheCoNTAlNERmetaphor.whichmapstheemotionofhappinessontoaflui
26、dinacontainer.ThismetaphorHAPPINESSISAFLUlDINACoNTAINERismanifestedinChinesebythefollowingsentences:(1)他心中充满喜悦.(2)喜悦之情如泉水流入他的心里.(3)他俩一见如故,言谈中,他觉得有一种无名的欢愉涌上心头.(4)我再也按捺不住心中的喜悦.(5)他们满怀喜悦.AlthoughbothEnglishandChineseusetheC0NTAlNERmetaPhorinexpressinghaPPiness.thererestilIsomedifferencesbetweenthemjust
27、accordingtothoseexampleslistedabove.InEnglish,thecontainermainlyreferstothebody,whileinChineseitismostlytheheartinsidethebodythatcountsasthecontainer.ontheotherhand.ofcourseinEnglish,theheartcanalsobethecontainerofhaPPinessasthesentenceMyheartisfilledwithjoyshows,butsuchphenomenonisveryrare.InChines
28、e,otherbodyparts,suchasbosomorchestcanbespecifiedasthecontainerofhappiness.Bytakingthisdifferenceintoconsideration,wecanseemoregeneraldifferencebetweenEnglishandChinese,thatis,ChinesetendstousemorebodypartsthanEnglishdoes.BesldestheabovethreemetaPhors,Chinesecommandsanothermetaphorthatisnotapplicabl
29、einEnglish:HAPPINESSISA106CrazyEngfshTeachersFLOWERINTHEHEART.wherehappinessisconceptuaIizedasflower.Theexampiesinclude:(1)她心里乐开了花.(2)人人心花怒放.Themeta0horicalconceptisprofoundlyrootedintheChinesecuIture.inwhichhappinesstraditionallyembodiesinflowers,especiallybigredflowers.Atthesametime,thisFLOWERmeta
30、Phortoagreatextentreflectstheintrovertedcharactertypica10fChinesepeople.Asweallknow,eventhoughsomethingveryexcitinghappens,Chinesepeopleseldomrevealtheirhappinesswildlyoutside.Thereactionstohappinessoftenliedeepinheas.ThisformsastrikingcontrasttothewesternpeoplewhoaremoreextroveedjustastheEnglishmet
31、aphorBEINGHAPPYISBElNGOFFTHEGROUNDmirrors.JustasthesameasEngIish,ChinesecoversaseriesofmetonymicexDressions0fhappiness:JUMPlNG(1)如果松本知道能出口这么多的和服,他一定会高兴得跳起来.(2)游客在水雾中望见七彩飞虹,无不兴高采烈,欢呼雀跃.DANClNG(1)她们兴高采烈,婆娑起舞.(2)他高兴时手舞足蹈,失望时垂头丧气.SMlLlNG(1)他高兴地笑了.(2)他笑容满面.REACTloNSlNEYESANDBRoWS(1)他眉飞色舞地说起他的童年趣事.(2)喜时扬眉
32、吐气,悲时双眉紧蹙.(3)他喜上眉梢.(4)他眉开眼笑.ComparedwithEnglish,Chineseusebrows(眉)aswellaseyes(眼)toexpresstheemotionofhappiness.BrowsinChinaareconceivedofasoneofthemostdistinctindicatorsofinternall|ji擎;I洒Ifeelings.Anotherdistinctionbetweenthemisconcernedwiththefocusoneyeexpressions.Englishfocusesontheincreasebright
33、nessofeyes,whileChineseprefersthechangeinthephysicalshapeofeyes.TosumuP,ChineseandEnglishsharesomemajorconcePtuaImetaPhorsinconceptuaIizinghaPPiness.whichincludeHAPPYISUP:HAPPYISLIGHHAPPINESSISAFLUIDINACoNTAINER.Butbothofthemhavetheirowndistinctivemetaphors,asillustratedbyBEINGHAPPYISBEINGOFFTHEGROU
34、NDfromEnglishandHAPPINESSlSAFLoWERINTHEHEARTfromChinese.Inaddition,ChineseandEnglishareverysimilarinthoseconventionalexpressionsmetonymicoftheemotionofhappinessbyreferringtosomecommonbehavioralreactionstotheemotion,suchasjumping,dancing,smilingandresponseineyesorbrows.4.ConcIusionAsweknow,metaphoris
35、socommonthatitleavesitstraceineverysideofhumanbeingslife,especiallyinthelanguages;anditextendstoeverything.suchasoneofhumansemotionHAPPINESS.EnglishandChinesehavealotincommoninconceptualmetaphorsandtheyhavesomedifferences.Thereasonforthesimilaritiesanddifferencesisthatmetaphorismainlygroundedinbodil
36、yexperience,yetisalsolimitedbyculturalmodels.ItisclearthatcuIturaImodeIsPIayamajorPartinc0nceptuaIjzjngtheworldandconstraintheselectionofmetaphors.Again.LakoffandJohnsonstheoryofmetaphorisPrimarilyconceptualinnature,andisamodeofthinking.Theconclusionisthatcultureshapesmetaphorandinreturn,metaphorcon
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