Conceptual Metaphor “HEART IS AN OBJECT” in Thai in Comparison with Mandarin Chinese
Keywords:
Conceptual Metaphor, “ THE HEART IS AN OBJECT, Cognitive linguistics, Thai Language and ChineseAbstract
The purpose of this article is to study and compare the concept of “HEART IS AN OBJECT” in both Thai and Chinese language when the word “HEART” is used as a metaphor in both languages. The results indicated that the process of conceptualization of all Thai and Chinese language users on “HEART” could be considered as a cognitive procedure of metaphorical concept construction. The concept of “HEART” is regarded as one's understanding of physical objects or valuable entities. It makes “HEART” concept to be understood by relying on more concrete objects in order to summarize abstract concepts more clearly. Thus, it can be seen that conceptual metaphor in divergent languages and cultures not only exists universal characteristics. But for the conceptual system of each ethnic group reflected by the usage of metaphorical language, it also exists mutual characteristics. At the same time, conceptual formations or conceptualizations of “HEART” in Thai and Chinese share many similarities, figurative meanings and linguistic representations in each language, yet they also have many differences as a result of each country’s inherent culture. In addition, it was also found that some examples that only appear in each language.
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