汉动物隐喻对比研究A Contrastive Study of English and Chinese Animal Metaphor from the Cultural Perspective

ChapterOneIntroductionInrecentyears,theresearchonmetaphorathomeandabroadhasgraduallyincreased,especiallythestudyof“animalmetaphor”hasarousedthewideinterestofscholars.Metaphorisoneofthemostbasicwaysofthinkingandcognitionofhumanbeings,andanimalshavebeeninseparablefromhumanssinceancienttimes.Indailylife,humansalwaysexpresstheirthoughtsasordinarythings.Nomatterwhattimeofday,whetherEastorWest,peoplehavemoreorlesscommonfeelingsforanimals.However,duetotheculturalenvironment,background,people'scognitivestyle,andreligiousbeliefsthatpeoplearein,theremustbecertaindifferencesintheunderstandingofanimalvocabulary.Animalmetaphorsareubiquitousinourlives,notonlyinlanguage,butalsoinourthinkingandbehavior.Inthefieldofmetaphorresearch,mostresearchisconductedfromtheaspectsofinterculturalcommunication,culture,andtranslation.Thispapermainlydiscussesthesameanimalexpressingthesamemetaphor,differentanimalsexpressingthesamemetaphor,andthesameanimalexpressingdifferentmetaphors.BystudyingthecommonalityanddifferencebetweenEnglishandChineseanimalmetaphors,thereasonsforthecommonalityanddifferencebetweenEnglishandChineseanimalmetaphorsarefound,andthesamecausesmainlyincludethesamecharacteristicsofanimalsthemselvesandthesamecognitivepatternsthathumanshave.Themainreasonsforthedifferencesarethehistoricalandculturaldifferencesandregionaldifferencesbetweenthetwocountries.Understandingthesecontentsisofgreatpracticalsignificance,whichcanhelpusunderstandthedifferencesinculturalconnotationsbetweendifferentethnicgroups,enhancetheculturalvaluesofvariousethnicgroups,andpromoteculturalexchangesandintegrationamongethnicgroups.

ChapterTwoIntroductiontoMetaphorandAnimalMetaphorInthischapter,themainfocusistounderstandtheconceptofmetaphorandanimalmetaphor.AstudyofLakoff&Johnson’sbookTheMetaphorsWeLiveByshowsthatmetaphorsfallintothreebroadcategories,andanimalmetaphorsfallintooneofthesethreecategories.2.1MetaphorDefinitionMetaphorisalexicalterm,andmetaphorisawayofderivingonthebasisofsomesimilaritybetweentherealphenomenareflectedbytwomeanings.InEnglish,metaphorisarhetoricaldevicethatisdifferentfromsimileandisnotrepresentedbylikeoras,butbymakinghiddencomparisons.Metaphorsarealsoknownasmetaphors.Ametaphorisametaphorthatusesonethingasametaphorforanother.Metaphorhasbeenthefocusofcognitivesemanticresearchsincethe80softhe20thcenturyandisconsideredanimportantwayofhumancognition.TheideaofconceptualmetaphortheorywasfirstdevelopedinLakoff&Johnson’sbookTheMetaphorsWeLiveBy.Theydivideconceptualmetaphorsintothreecategories:structuralmetaphors,orientationmetaphors,andentitymetaphors.Structuralmetaphoristheconstructionofoneconceptinthestructureofanother,sothatthetwoconceptsaresuperimposedandthewordsthatdescribeoneconceptareusedtodescribetheother.Forexample,(1)“timeismoney”,theconceptoftimeisorganizedandunderstoodthroughtheconceptofmoney,thewordsusedtotalkabout“money”canbeusedfor“time”,timeisregardedassomethingaspreciousasmoney,suchas“spendingtime”,“wastingtime”,“savingtime”andsoon.Orientationmetaphorsaremostlyrelatedtospatialorientation,suchasupanddown,exceptions,frontandback,anddepth.Thesespatialorientationscomefromourbodiesandtherolestheyplayinthephysicalenvironment.Orientationmetaphorsprovidetheconceptofspatialorientation.Forexample,(2)whenotherscallyou“youfloat”,andfloatingmeansbearing,meaningyougoup.Anotherexampleis“wemuststriveupward”,“strivingupward”meanstocontinuouslyachievesuccessthroughhardwork,andconstantlygointhedirectionofthetop.Entitymetaphorreferstopeopleviewingabstractandvaguethoughts,feelings,mentalactivities,events,statesandotherintangibleconceptsasconcretetangibleentities,especiallythehumanbodyitself.Lakoffarguesthatanimalmetaphorsfallintothecategoryofentitymetaphors.Takingtheexperienceofrisingpricesasanexample,fromametaphoricalpointofview,risingpricescanalsobeseenasanentitybythenouninflation.Inflationisloweringourstandardofliving.Inflationhasdrivenusintoacorner.2.2AnimalMetaphorDefinitionAnimalmetaphorreferstotheculturalassociationwithanimalsasmetaphors,whichreferstopeopleorthingswithsimilarcharacteristicsthroughanimalsthatarefamiliartopeopleintheirlives,havedistinctimages,andhaveprominentcharacteristics.Ontheonehand,animalwordsrefertotheconceptualmeaningofanimalsthemselves,whichareindependentofcontextandarenotaffectedbyobjectivefactors;Ontheotherhand,duetothecloserelationshipbetweenanimalsandhumans,animalwordshaveanothermeaningonthebasisoftheirownmeaning—culturalmeaning.Inaddition,withtheincreasingattentiontometaphors,moreandmorescholarsareworkingonanimalmetaphors.LakoffandJohnsonstartedwithconceptualmetaphors,andanimalmetaphors,asphysicalmetaphors,areamentalembodimentoftherelationshipbetweenanimalsandpeople.Aristotle,ontheotherhand,sawanimalsasspeciesandmanasgenus,sotheanimalmetaphorisametaphorforgenus.“WangGuijuanpointedoutinAComparativeStudyofMetaphorsofEnglishandChineseEmotionalIdioms-TakingAnimalIdiomsasExamplesthatanimalidiomsinChinaandtheUKcontaindifferentemotions.AcomparativestudyofemotionalmetaphorsinEnglish-Chineseidiomsfromtheperspectiveofcognitivelinguistics-TakingEnglish-Chineseanimalidiomsasanexample,thedifferencesinculturalfactorsandcognitiveemotionalpsychologywereanalyzed.”[1]111“ChenYuhongpointedoutinResearchonAnimalMetaphorsinEnglishandChinesefromthePerspectiveofCognitionandCulturethatmetaphorsareanimportantpartofhumanlife.ShecontrastsanimalmetaphorsinEnglishandChinesefromacognitiveandculturalperspective,andfindssimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenanimalmetaphorsinthetwolanguages.”[2]3Fromtheaboveresearchonanimalmetaphors,itcanbefoundthatmostoftheresearchsofarhasbeencarriedoutintermsofculturalcontrast,cognitionandtranslation.Thispapermainlyanalyzesanddiscussesanimalmetaphorsfromaculturalperspective,analyzesandexperiencespeoplethroughanimals,findssomesimilaritiesbetweenanimalsandhumans,andconnectsthem,andexpresseshumanthoughtsandemotionswithanimalcharacteristicsthroughmetaphors.

ChapterThreeTheRelationshipbetweenAnimalMetaphorandCultureCultureisacomplexofknowledge,beliefs,art,law,ethics,customs,andotherhabits,abilities,etc.commontothemajorityofmembersofasociety.Cultureisacomplexofknowledge,beliefs,art,law,ethics,customs,andotherhabits,abilities,etc.commontothemajorityofmembersofasociety.Inthischapter,wemainlytalkabouttherelationshipbetweenanimalmetaphorandcultureandtheculturalsignificanceofanimalmetaphor.Imainlystudyanimalmetaphorsfromalinguisticandculturalperspective.Languageisthecarrierofcultureandanimportanttoolfortheinheritanceofculture.3.1TheFormationofAnimalMetaphorsfromthePerspectiveofLanguageandCultureAnimalmetaphorsaredeeplyinfluencedbyculturalfactors,especiallyintheformationandunderstandingofanimalmetaphors,andlanguageandcultureareinterdependentandinfluenceeachother.Therefore,animalmetaphor,cultureandlanguagearecloselyrelatedandinfluenceeachother.“Therelationshipbetweenlanguageandcultureisinseparablefromoneanother,whereintheformerisaformofexpressionofthelatterthatispasseddownfromgenerationtogeneration.Inthisperspective,languagecanbesaidtobeameansofculturaltransmission,whetheritexpresses,reflects,orsymbolizesculture.”[3]326Languageisacommunicationtoolforhumanbeings,andnoonecandowithoutit.Languagesvaryduetodifferenthistories,religiousbeliefs,geographicalenvironments,andotherfactorsindifferentcountries.Thesameistrueofanimalmetaphors,whicharemainlyduetodifferentunderstandingsofthesameanimalindifferentculturalcontexts,andtherearealsosomeanimalmetaphorsthathavesomesimilaritiesindifferentanimalunderstandingsindifferentculturalcontexts.“ZhangYifoundthatthesimilaritybetweenBritishandChineseanimalmetaphorsismainlyreflectedinthepejorativemeaning.WhilemostChineseandEnglishanimalmetaphorsexhibitpejorativeconnotations,EnglishanimalexpressionsoutnumberChineseanimalexpressionsintermsofcriticalsignificance.Whethertheunderstandingofanimalmetaphorsisthesameordifferent,itisfundamentallybecauseofthedevelopmentofChineseandEnglishChineselanguageculture.”[4]503.2TheCulturalSignificanceofAnimalMetaphorsTheanimalmetaphorisnotonlyinfluencedbylanguageculture,italsoembodiessomeculturalsignificance.Bycomparingtheanimalimagesofthetwocountries,wecanfindthatcultureisthemainreasonforthedifferencebetweentheEnglishandChineseanimalmetaphors.Fromanimalmetaphors,wecanalsofindthehistoricalandculturaldevelopmentofChinaandBritain.Animalmetaphorsplayanimportantroleinthehistoricaldevelopmentofhumans,whooftenuseanimalsasmetaphorsforhumanthoughtandbehavior.BystudyingsomeanimalimagesandfindingoutthesimilaritiesanddifferencesinthehistoryandcultureofChineseandBritishcountries,wecanbetterunderstandthehistoryandcultureofdifferentcountries,sothatwecanbettercommunicateincross-culturalcommunicationandchooseeachother'sexcellenttraditionalculture.Atthesametime,itcanalsobetterspreadChina'straditionalculture,effectivelysolvevariouscommunicationproblems,enhanceitsownvalue,andcreateabetterlanguageandculture.

ChapterFourAComparativeStudyofEnglishandChineseAnimalMetaphorsfromaCulturalPerspectiveInthischapter,thecommonalitiesanddifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseanimalmetaphorsaremainlydiscussedfromaculturalperspective.Throughtheanalysisanddiscussionofsomeanimals,understandtheirmetaphoricalmeaning,findoutthesameordifferentmetaphorsexpressedinChinaandBritain,andthencomparetheirsimilaritiesanddifferencestounderstandthedeepconnectionbetweenanimalsandmetaphors.4.1TheExpressionoftheSameMetaphorfortheSameAnimalinEnglishandChineseAlthoughpeopleinChinaandtheUKhavedifferentskintonesandlanguages,andtherearecertaindifferencesinlifestyles,peopleinthetwocountriesstillhavesomethingsincommonintheirwayofthinking.Wecanexpressthisthroughsomeanimalmetaphoricalmeanings.4.1.1TheMetaphoricalMeaningoftheWolfInbothChineseandEnglish,wolfmeansfierceness,cruelty,cunning,andgreed.IntraditionalChineseculture,wolvesaresynonymouswithsin.InChina,thereisthestoryofMr.Dongguoandthewolf,throughwhichmanypeoplethinkthatthewolfiscunningandfierce,andsomepeoplegivethewolfanungratefulmeaning.InChinese,therearealsomanywordsrelatedtowolves,whichareusedtodescribepeople.Forexample,(1)Thewolfisgreedyandthieves(狼贪鼠窃),greedyandfiercelikeawolf;Habitualtheftlikearat.Itisoftenusedtodescribepeopleasfierceandmean.(2)Wolfheartdoglung(狼心狗肺),itisusedtodescribethehumanheartisasviciousandviciousaswolvesanddogs.(3)Jackalsbecomenature(豺狼成性),andithasbecomeahabittobeviciousandbrutallikewolves,anditisdescribedashumancruelty.IntheUK,people’sperceptionofwolvesandChinesearebasicallythesame.InEnglish,therearealsomanywordsandsentencesthatreflecttheferocityofwolves.Forexample,(4)Thewolfmaylosehisteeth,butneverhisnature.Thisproverbreflectsthecunningofwolves.(5)Thelifeofthewolfisthedeathofthelamb.(6)Thelonesheepisindangerofthewolf.Thesetwosentencesreflectthegreedandferocityofthewolf.Throughtheaboveexamples,wecanseethatwhetherinChinaortheUK,people’sperceptionofwolvesisbasicallythesame,thereisnobigdifference,andwolvesaregivenapejorativemeaning.4.1.2TheMetaphoricalMeaningofthePigLikewolves,peopleinChinaandBritainthinktheimageofpigsisbad.Thepighasaverydistinctivephysicalcharacteristic,fatbody,shortlimbs,largeears,andsmalleyes.Thepiglivesinapigstyallyearround,eatsalotoffood,andhasarudimentaryenvironmentandpoorhygiene,soitisbelievedtorepresentcoarseness,uglinessandgreed.InChina,therearemanywordsthatdescribepigs,allofwhichreflectthecharacteristicsofvulgarity,uglinessandgreed.Forexample,(1)Mudpigscabiesdog(泥猪疥狗),usedasametaphorforalowlyorvulgarperson.(2)ZhuBajieeatsginsengfruit,completelydoesnotknowthetaste(猪八戒吃人参果，全不知滋味).Thissentencemeansthatitisametaphorforeatingandgobblingup,toolatetotasteit,butalsoametaphorforpeoplereadingbooksanddoingthingsgreedytogetmore,infact,theydowhattheygain,reflectingpeople’sgreed.(3)Fatheadbigears(肥头大耳),fathead,hugeears,itisusedtodescribepeoplearetoofat,likepigsasabhorrent.InEnglish,inadditiontopig,manywordshavethemeaningofpig,suchashog,swine,sow.Firstlookatpig,thesentenceaboutpigtodescribepeopleisIwasabitofapigandatethewholecake.Thissentenceusespigstoreflectpeople’sgluttonyandlargemeals.Secondly,whenusedasasow,sowisaderogatorytermusedtodescribeasloppy,gluttonous,lazyfatwoman,likeswine.Finally,theBritishoftenusehogtodescribegreedy,coarse,lazy,dirtypeople,andthereisevenaderivativewordhogwashtomeanstupidideas.4.1.3TheMetaphoricalMeaningoftheFoxBecauseofitsnarrowfaceandslendereyes,foxesgivepeopleasinisterandcunningfeelingofcalculatingothers.Therefore,mostpeopleinChinaandBritainassociatefoxeswithbadthingsorpeople.Theybelievethatthefoxsymbolizestreachery,cunning,hypocrisy.Chineseoftenassociatefoxeswithvixens,andtheycallenchantingwomenvixens.Therearealsomanyidiomsaboutfoxesthatsymbolizebadmetaphors.Forexample,(1)Thefoxdogparty(狐群狗党),ametaphorforthebadguyswhocolludetogether.(2)Foxdisciple(狐鼠之徒).Thefoxisoftenusedasametaphorforpeopleoflowquality.(3)Treacheryislikeaghost,walkinglikeafox(奸同鬼蜮，行若狐鼠),treacherouslikeaghost,cunninglikeafox,andthemetaphorisextremelybad.IntheUK,thewordfox,inadditiontothemeaningoffox,alsomeanscunningpersonoroldslipperyhead.Itcanalsobeusedasaverbtoindicatetobefooledanddeceived.Intheproverb,thecunningofthefoxcanalsobereflected.Forexample,whenthefoxpreaches,thentakecareofyourgeese.4.2TheExpressionoftheSameMetaphorfortheDifferentAnimalinEnglishandChineseIndifferentcountries,notonlythesameanimalshavethesamemetaphor,butdifferentanimalshavethesamemetaphorindifferentcountries,andtherearesomecommonalitiesbetweenthem.4.2.1TheMetaphoricalMeaningoftheTigerandtheLionInChina,tigersareknownasthe“kingofbeasts”.Thetigersymbolizesstrength,courageandpower,whichisalsorelatedtoitsphysicalcharacteristics,thetigerhasaninnate“king”characteronitsforehead,andthetiger’sstrengthisalsoverystrong.Inancienttimes,Chineseoftenused“tigergeneral(虎将)”todescribeabraveandgoodgeneral.Theterm“tigerminister(虎臣)”isusedtodescribeaministerwhoisloyalandfierceanddoesnotfavorselfishness.AndthelionisknowninEnglandasthe“kingofallbeasts”.ThelionwasonceasymboloftheBritishroyalfamily,symbolizingroyalpowerandpower.TheBritishbelievedthatthelionsymbolizedbravery,majesty.LiketheChinesetiger,theBritishlionisoftenusedtodescribeapersonwhoistallandpowerful,powerfulandofhighstatus.TherearealsomanywordsthatreflecttheloveandaweoflionsintheBritish.Forexample,(1)regalasalion,(2)boldasalion.InmedievalEngland,thelionsymbolizesthemajestyoftheBritishroyalforce.ItisnowalsoreflectedinthecoatofarmsoftheUnitedKingdom.Thecentralpatternisacoatofarms,withthreegoldenlionsonaredbackgroundintheupperleftandlowerrightcornersoftheshield,symbolizingEngland;Intheupperrightcornerisaredlionstandingonayellowbackground,symbolizingScotland;Thelowerleftcornerisagoldenharponabluebackground,symbolizingNorthernIreland.ThecoatofarmsisguardedoneithersidebyalionwithacrownrepresentingEnglandandaunicornfromScotland.4.2.2TheMetaphoricalMeaningoftheMouseandtheRabbitWhenitcomestomice,Chinesefirstthinkoftimidity,followedbysensitivity.Peopleoftenusemicetodescribeapersonwhoistimidandafraidofthings.Forexample,(1)timidasamouse(胆小如鼠),usedtodescribeapersonwhoistimidandafraidofthings,blindlyobedient.(2)Theheadoftheratisintrouble(鼠首偾事).Themetaphoristhatpeopleareindecisive,likeatimidmousewithitsheadstretchingandcontractingatthemouthoftheholewhenitcomesoutofthehole.InChina,therearemanywordsrelatedtorats,allusedtodescribepeople,butmostofthemhavepejorativeconnotations.Ratshaveasensitivesenseofsmell,highvigilance,andaverydexterousbody,whichcangothroughwallsandwalls,runlikeflying,andfalltothegroundfromtensofmetershighwithoutinjury.Althoughmicearenotaquaticanimals,inordertosurvive,micecanswiminshallowwaternarrowditchponds,whichreflectsthesensitivityoftherat’sbody.InBritain,rabbits,likeChinesemice,representtimidityandsensitivity.InEnglish,rabbitorhareissynonymouswithcoward,nest.TheBritishoftensay“astimidasrabbit”andtheChineseword“timidasamouse(胆小如鼠)”meansthesamething.Therearealsomanyproverbsaboutrabbits.Forexample,evenarabbitwillbitewhenitiscornered.RabbitsarealsousedintheUKtodescribepeoplewhoarewise,livelyandcute.Itcanbeseenthatintwodifferentcountries,differentanimalscanbeusedtorepresentthesameemotionsofpeople.4.2.3TheMetaphoricalMeaningoftheCowandtheHorseCattleplayanimportantroleinChina’sagriculturaldevelopment.CattlehelpChinesefarmandgivesilently.Therefore,inChinese,therearemanyidiomsrelatedtocows.Forexample,(1)cowtemper,cownature(牛脾气，牛性子)describesaperson’stemperisverystubborn.(2)Playingthepianotoacow(对牛弹琴),ametaphorforbeingreasonabletoanunreasonableperson,andeleganttoapersonwhodoesnotknowbeauty,isalsousedtoridiculepeoplefornotlookingattheobjectwhenspeaking.(3)Thepowerofninebullsandtwotigers(九牛二虎之力)meansthesumofthestrengthofninecowsandtwotigers.Thepowerofthemetaphorisunstoppable.Althoughcattlehelppeoplealotinfarming,thestatusofcattleisstillverylow,becausecattledothingsthatpeoplearegenerallyunwillingtodo.InBritain,horsesandcowsareverystubborn.(4)Youcantakeahorsetothewaterbutyoucannotmakehimdrink.Thissentenceshowsthestubbornnessofthehorseandcanbeusedtodescribeapersonwithastubborntemper.(5)TheBritishoftenuseworklikeahorseasametaphorforapersonwhoworkshard.(6)Strongasahorsedescribesamanwhoisstrongandphysicallystrong.InBritain,horses,likeChinesecattle,dojobsthatpeopledonotwanttodo,andtheirstatusisverylow.4.3TheGapintheMetaphorofAnimalThedifferencebetweenEnglishandChineseanimalmetaphorsisreflectedinthedifferentmeaningsexpressedbythesameanimals,andinthissection,itismainlytostartfromthegapsinanimalmetaphorstofindoutthedifferentmeaningsofanimalmetaphorsexpressedindifferentcountriesinChinaandEngland.ThissectionmainlywritesabouttheblankspaceofanimalmetaphorsinEnglishandtheblankspaceinChinese.AnalyzingthegapsinanimalmeaningsinChinaandEnglish,wecanseetheculturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandtheEnglish.4.3.1TheGapintheMetaphorofAnimalinEnglishDuetolanguageandculturaldifferences,thesameanimalwordhasrichmetaphoricalmeaninginChinese,buthasnoactualmetaphoricalmeaninginEnglish,thatis,themetaphoricalmeaninghasavacancyinBritishculture.Duetolanguageandculturaldifferences,thesameanimalwordhasrichmetaphoricalmeaninginChinese,buthasnoactualmetaphoricalmeaninginEnglish,thatis,themetaphoricalmeaninghasavacancyinBritishculture.Inlife,noteveryanimalhasanactualmetaphoricalmeaning,andsomeanimalshavepracticalmeaninginChinese,buthavenoactualmeaninginEnglish,likemandarinducks.MandarinducksinChinasymbolizehappylove,thingsinpairs.InancientChina,theMandarinduckwascomparedtoahusbandandwife,andtheearliestversewasfromtheTangDynastypoetLuZhaolin’sChang’anAncientYi,inwhichthepoem“Howtodieinamandarinduck,mayyoubeamandarinduckandnotenvytheimmortals(得成比目何辞死，愿作鸳鸯不羡仙)”,praisingbeautifullove.Somepeopleembroidermandarinducksonobjectsandgivethemtotheirfavoritepeopletoexpresstheirlove.TheMandarinduck,ontheotherhand,hasnoactualmeaningintheeyesoftheBritish.Andcranes.CraneshaveabeautifulmeaningintheeyesofChinese,cranesrepresentlongevity,andpeopleoftenusecranestowishpeoplelonglifeandhealth.InChina,therearemanyidiomswithcranesusedtoindicateblessingstotheelderly.Forexample,(1)HeshouTianShou(鹤寿添寿)(2)TongHeYannian(童鹤延年)(3)ZhuYanHefa(朱颜鹤发).AndthecranehasnospecialmeaningintheeyesoftheBritish,itonlyhasmanymeaningsinChina.AmongtheanimalsthathavenospecialmeaningintheUKisthesilkworm.ButintheeyesofChinese,silkwormsrepresentperseverance,dedication,dedicationandotherspirits.Especiallythespringsilkworm,inthesentence“springsilkwormtotheendofthedeadsilk(春蚕到死丝方尽)”,thespringsilkwormisusedtodescribeteachersandotherpeoplewhoarewillingtocontribute.Thesilkwormhasfourstages,eachofwhichisgivenadifferentmeaningbyChinese.Thefirststageisthespitofsilk,whichsymbolizesstruggle.Thesecondstageiscocooning,whichmeansdiscoveringone’spotentialthroughstruggleandprotectingoneself.Thethirdstageispupae,whichrepresentsone’sowngrowththroughcontinuousefforts.Thelaststageismoth,whichrepresentsthefinalefforttobecomeasuccessfulperson.4.3.2TheGapintheMetaphorofAnimalinChineseDuetolanguageandculturaldifferences,thesameanimalwordhasrichmetaphoricalmeaninginEnglish,buthasnoactualmetaphoricalmeaninginChinese,thatis,themetaphoricalmeaningisvacantinChineseculture.Duetolanguageandculturaldifferences,thesameanimalwordhasrichmetaphoricalmeaninginEnglish,buthasnoactualmetaphoricalmeaninginChinese,thatis,themetaphoricalmeaningisvacantinChineseculture.NotonlydoestheanimalmetaphorhaveablankmeaninginEnglish,butthisisalsothecaseinChinese.Oystersareoneofthem.IntheeyesoftheBritish,oystersareusedtorepresenttaciturnpeoplebecauseoftheirappearance.TheBritishbelievethatthebestoystersarealwayswiththeirmouthstightlyclosed,justlikepeople’smouths,closedtightlyanddonotspeak.ButintheeyesofChinese,oystersarejustafood,andhavenoothermeaning.Beaversoftenrefertopeoplewhoworktoohardtopleasetheirsuperiors.Beaversareactive,highlyskilledandingeniousinnestingintrees,sotheyarecalledeagerbeavers,oftenusedtoreferto“workinghardinahurrytogetsomethingdone.”Butalittleimpatientperson,withalittlepejorativeovertone.BeaversarerareinChina,letaloneitsmeaning.

ChapterFiveExploringtheCausesofSimilaritiesandDifferencesinEnglishandChineseAnimalMetaphorsfromaCulturalPerspectiveInthischapter,themainpurposeistoexplorethereasonsforthesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseanimalmetaphors.Tohelppeoplebetterunderstandthehistory,cultureandlifestyleofChinaandtheUK,andpromotecross-culturalcommunicationbetweenChinaandtheUK.5.1TheReasonsfortheSimilarityofEnglishandChineseAnimalMetaphorsfromaCulturalPerspectiveThesimilarityofEnglishandChineseanimalmetaphorsismainlystudiedfromtwoaspects:thecharacteristicsofanimalsthemselvesandhumancognitivepatterns.5.1.1TheSameCharacteristicsoftheAnimalItselfThereasonforthesimilaritybetweenEnglishandChineseanimalmetaphorsisfundamentallybecauseofthecommoncharacteristicsofanimalsthemselves.Animalsarecloselyrelatedtopeopleandnature,andsomeanimaltraitsareinnate.Whenpeoplethinkofbirds,theyfirstthinkofbirdsasflyinganimals.Whenpeoplethinkoffish,theythinkoffishswimminginthewater.Themorphology,appearance,livinghabitsandotherbiologicalcharacteristicsofsomeanimalsarerelativelystable.Thesecharacteristicsaregenerallyrecognizedbypeopleindifferentregions.Forexample,thereisaphraseinEnglish,“Acrowisneverthewhiteforwashingherselfoften.”AndasayinginChinese:“Thewhitewashedcrowisnotlongafter(粉刷的乌鸦白不久)”.Bothsentencesdescribethedifficultyofchangingnature.Bothmetaphorsarereflectedbythecoloronthecrow’sbody,andthebiologicalcharacteristicsofthecolorarewidelyrecognizedbytheChineseandBritishpeople,soitiseasytoagree.5.1.2TheSameCognitivePatternsinHumans“Oneoftheculturalmanifestationsthatcanbeconsideredsignificantlyinfluencingtheconstructionofmetaphorsinalanguageisthehumanperceptionofanimals.”[5]85People’sunderstandingofanimalsisfirstofalltounderstandthephysicalcharacteristicsofanimals,followedbytheirlivinghabits.Afterpeopleunderstandanimals,theywilldefinethemetaphorofanimalsaccordingtotheirowncognitiveideas.Justlikecowsandhorses,inChina,peopleseethatthecowislargeandoftenhelpspeopledothings,andpeoplethinkthatitispowerfu