论文化差异对隐喻理解的影响

Understanding Metaphor from the Perspective of Cultural Differences

隐喻不仅是一种语言现象,而且是一种认知过程,是人们认识客观世界的一种方式。隐喻可分为共同隐喻和文化隐喻,在理解后一种隐喻时,文化因素起着不可忽视的作用。在中西文化因素中,不同的自然地理环境,价值观念,思维方式和文学传统都决定着人们认识隐喻的不同视角。主要根据语言、文化和思维的关系,从认知角度解释文化差异给隐喻理解造成的影响。

Metaphor serves not only as a rhetorical device but also is a cognitive process. It can be categorized as universal and culturally based metaphors. In the process of understanding the latter, culture plays a key role and is of vital importance. There are many differences existing between Chinese and westem culture, such as geographic environments, way of thinking, values and literature tradition. On the basis of the relation between languages, culture and thought, the influence of cultural factors is focused on the understanding of metaphor, from the perspective of cognition.