从原型范畴理论看隐喻的分类问题——对Lakoff隐喻分类方法的质疑

On the Classification of Metaphors from the Perspective of Prototype Theory——Questions on Lakoff's Approach to Classification of Metaphors

隐喻思维是在基本范畴等级上发展的。人类在范畴化过程中以一种概念结构构造另一种概念,产生了结构隐喻。结构隐喻是某些具有代表性属性的整合体,高度结构,轮廓清晰,具有普遍性和双重性。结构隐喻以方位隐喻和实体隐喻来体现,后两者在认知过程中存在互补和相容关系。而Lakoff把三类隐喻放在隐喻范畴的同一认知层面,显然忽视了结构隐喻的普遍性和双重性范畴特点,从而混淆了其上下位范畴关系。以隐喻概念的范畴化过程为切入点,运用原型理论的相关知识,对Lakoff的隐喻三分法提出了质疑,认为原型理论可以作为隐喻分类的一种依据。

Starting from the basic level of category, the categorization of metaphorical thought produces structure metaphor where one concept is metaphorically structured by another. As a highly structured and clearly delineated prototype mould, structure metaphor has to be embodied in the form of orientational metaphor or ontological metaphor because of its universality and duality. The latter two metaphors are complementary and compatible in the cognition of the world. However, Lakoff simply puts them on the same level of metaphor category to obviously neglect the universality and duality of structure metaphor and confuse their category statuses as well. Hence, from the perspective of the categorization of metaphor concept and prototype theory, this paper presents a negative attitude towards his approach. And prototype the- ory can be held to provide a practicable principle for the classification of metaphors.