One major assumption in the study of emotions is the idea that our understanding of emotion metaphors is, to a large extent, based on bodily experience. Although most evidence for this claim has been found in analyses of the English language, Chinese emotions seem to be conceptualised to a large degree in the same way as in English. Previous studies on the concepts of ANGER and HAPPINESS come to the conclusion that English and Chinese only vary in minor aspects, due to cultural differences. But how about the more peripheral type of emotions? Do these show the same metaphorical preferences? Or are they even more culture-specific?
In this paper I will show the different metaphorical realization of RESPECT in English and Chinese and offer some suggestions as to why these differences occur. For this analysis I have considered a set of about 140 sentences and idioms in English and Chinese. After considering these sample sentences, it will become evident that these two languages most likely follow the same major metaphorical principles. English and Chinese share important concepts such as GOOD IS UP or THE OBJECT OF RESPECT IS A VALUABLE COMMODITY. And this shows in the metaphorized expressions of respect. It seems, though, that Chinese is far more restricted in the use and meaning of these respect metaphors.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Metaphors of respect in English
3. Metaphors of respect in Chinese
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper investigates the metaphorical conceptualizations of "respect" in English and Chinese, aiming to determine whether these languages follow similar cognitive patterns despite cultural differences. The study focuses on how respect is expressed through spatial, evaluative, and religious metaphors.
- Contrastive analysis of metaphorical realization of respect.
- Application of the "GOOD IS UP" and "VALUABLE COMMODITY" concepts.
- Investigation of the "OBJECT OF RESPECT IS A DEITY" metaphor.
- Examination of grammatical and cultural constraints in Chinese.
- Evaluation of physiological evidence in emotional metaphors.
Excerpt from the Book
Metaphors of respect in English
When speakers of English want to express their respect for somebody, they use a variety of different gestures and phrases common to our western folk model of respect. For example, people may show respect towards the respecter by physical actions, e.g. bow down, lower the head, or even go down on our knees. According to Kövecses (1990), this is due to our belief that a person we respect is in some way superior to us – no matter if morally or in physical strength. Thus, we might say that by making us physically shorter, we metaphorically lift the person of respect above us. This gives rise to a metaphor Kövecses (1990) calls THE OBJECT OF RESPECT IS UP/HIGH. Examples of this metaphor would be:
(1) a. I always looked up to him.
b. He puts his wife on a pedestal.
c. Kenzaburo Oe is a highly regarded author.
But why do we in general conceptualise a person of respect as being UP/HIGH and express this in our behavioural patterns? Lakoff and Johnson (1980) suggest that the UP orientation is an indicator for well-being, goodness, health, virtue and control, as in: She is on top of her mental abilities. Therefore, there is good reason to believe that we apply this positive upward orientation also on people we respect. Considering the way we refer to highly respected people in our western culture, there is clear evidence that the GOOD IS UP metaphor correlates here with the BETTER IS UP metaphor mentioned by Kövecses (1990).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the theoretical assumption that emotions are based on bodily experience and sets the scope for the comparative analysis of "respect" in English and Chinese.
2. Metaphors of respect in English: This section explores how English speakers conceptualize respect through spatial metaphors like "UP/HIGH," the notion of value, and the perception of respect as a deity-like admiration.
3. Metaphors of respect in Chinese: This chapter analyzes how Chinese conceptualizes respect using similar metaphorical frameworks, while highlighting specific grammatical and cultural restrictions that differentiate it from English usage.
4. Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes findings, suggesting that while the core metaphorical models are shared, differences arise from grammatical restrictions and specific cultural symbolisms.
Keywords
Respect, Metaphor, Contrastive Linguistics, Cognitive Linguistics, English, Chinese, Emotional Concepts, Spatial Metaphors, Cultural Differences, Kövecses, Lakoff, Value, Deity, Conceptualization, Semantics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the metaphorical ways in which the concept of "respect" is understood and expressed in both the English and Chinese languages.
What are the central themes of the work?
The central themes include spatial metaphors (UP/DOWN), the conceptualization of respect as a valuable commodity, and the role of cultural and grammatical influences on emotional expression.
What is the main objective of the analysis?
The objective is to determine if English and Chinese share the same major metaphorical principles when expressing respect or if the conceptualizations are inherently culture-specific.
Which methodology is employed in the study?
The author performs a contrastive analysis using a set of approximately 140 sentences and idioms from English and Chinese, grounded in cognitive metaphor theory as proposed by Lakoff, Johnson, and Kövecses.
What is covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body compares specific metaphorical patterns in English, such as "THE OBJECT OF RESPECT IS UP," with corresponding structures in Chinese, while noting restricted usages and the absence of certain physiological mappings.
Which keywords best describe this work?
Key terms include respect, cognitive linguistics, contrastive analysis, metaphor theory, and cross-cultural conceptualization.
How does the English "OFF THE GROUND" metaphor differ from Chinese usage according to the paper?
While often possessing a positive connotation in English, the paper notes that the metaphor is typically negative in Chinese, though it may be shifting due to Western influence.
What role do colours play in Chinese metaphors of respect?
Colours like yellow (associated with the emperor) and red (associated with luck) serve as critical cultural symbols that define how respected individuals are conceptualized in Chinese, differing from Western symbolic associations.
Why is respect not typically "full" in the context of the "EMOTION AS A FLUID" metaphor?
The paper suggests that respect lacks the physiological basis required for the "fluid in a container" metaphor, which applies more easily to emotions like anger or happiness.
- Citation du texte
- Anja Schmidt (Auteur), 2003, A Case Study of Respect: Contrastive Aspects in English and Chinese, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/17322
