论隐喻的层次——以方位介词up和in为例

On Dimensions of Metaphor-Based upon Prepositions of Locality of up and in

本文以两个方位介词 up和 in为例 ,论述了二者从其空间意义影射到隐喻意义的认知过程。在这个影射过程中 ,空间意义所影射的隐喻意义的层次是不同的。隐喻的层次与该词的空间核心意义关系比较密切 ,它们取决于该空间核心意义与所隐喻的意义的距离远近。本文认为与该词的空间意义距离较近的隐喻意义是表层隐喻 ,而与该词的空间意义距离较远的隐喻意义是深层隐喻。

Based on the two prepositions of locality up and in, the cognitive process of how the spatial meanings of both up and in are extended into their metaphorical meanings is discussed in the paper. It is found that different dimensions of metaphor are formed during the process of extension. It is also found that the dimensions of metaphor are dependent upon the distance from the prototypical spatial meanings of the prepositions to their metaphorical meanings. It is argued in the paper that short distance from the spatial meanings to the metaphorical ones is considered to be the basic dimension and long distance from the spatial meanings to the metaphorical ones is considered to be the high dimension of metaphor.