“五行”之木行造字组词的认知研究

A Cognitive Study on木MU(Wood)in the Formation of Chinese Characters and Vocabularies

以“木”相关字和词为研究对象,系统分析表明:人们通过范畴化符号“木”体现了古人对树木分类命名、树木结构、树木特征、树木使用等方面的认知。造词方面,“木”通过概念转喻指代树木分类、树木构成、树木特征、木生物、木制品和五行等。通过概念隐喻,将柔韧性、坚硬性、结构和天然性等映射到抽象的人性格、情感、天然、力量、社会等级和起源等属性方面。“木”通过范畴化、概念转喻和概念隐喻进入到汉语造字组词中,对中国人认知经验进行了记录,并在中国人对世界的认知和思维中起着重要作用。

This paper systematically analyzed the Chinese characters and vocabularies related to this element of木(Wood).It is found that,in the process of character formation,such aspects as name,structure,characteristics and usages of wood are conceptualized through the category maker of“木”.In the process of phrase formation,through metonymy,“木”refers to classification,structure,characteristics,Living things in woods,wooden products and Chinese WUXING.Through metaphor,such aspects of earth as flexibility,hardness,structure and natural are mapped onto the abstract notions as personality,emotions,power,natural,social status and origins.Through the process of categorization,metonymy and metaphor,earth enters the formation process of Chinese characters,phrases and idioms,and plays a vital role in Chinese people’s experience recording and cognition of the world.