英语动词现在时的隐喻认知模式

在传统语法中,现在时通常表示现在时间,但是也用于指称过去时间或将来时间,可是我们不能给人一种圆满的解释。本文从隐喻认知的角度探讨英语中动词现在时的非现在时间用法。传统语法中的英语中动词现在时的非现在时间用法实际上是从现实距离映射到时间距离,继而映射到心理距离,这是人类隐喻认知模式在语法结构中的运作和体现。而且,用现在时表示过去时间或者将来时间实现了距离的拉近,距离的拉近更给人一种礼貌的意象和交流的生动感。这样解释更能使人满意。

In the traditional grammar of English, the present tense of verb is always representing the present time, meanwhile, referring the past and the future time,which don't offer us a relatively perfect explanation. This article mainly talks about the traditional use of the present tense from the perspective of cognitive metaphor. The non-present-time use of the present tense in the traditional grammar of English, as a matter of fact, is the mapping from space distance to time distance, then to psychological distance, as the management and embodiment of human cognitive metaphor in syntactic grammar. And also, the non-present-time use of the present tense realizes the closeness of time, which shows us a polite image and vivid communication. To some extent, this explanation makes us feel more content.