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UM E-Theses Collection (澳門大學電子學位論文庫)

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Title

The comparative study of conceptual metaphors of death in English and Chinese epitaphs

English Abstract

Abstract of thesis entitled The Comparative Study of Conceptual Metaphors of Death in English and Chinese Epitaphs Submitted by Zoe, Fang Xiaojun M-B2-4021-0 for the degree of Master of Arts in English Studies at the University of Macau in May 2016 From the perspective of cognitive linguistics, instead of being regarded as just a figurative device, metaphors are considered as a way to conceptualize the world, especially abstract concepts. It is also evident that death is metaphorically conceptualized in both English and Chinese cultures. The work presented in this study focuses on the investigation of the death metaphors identified in the collected English and Chinese epitaphs based on the framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory put forward by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) and the identifying method of MIP(VU) initiated by the Pragglejaz Group in 2007. By analyzing the data, the basic death-related conceptual metaphor categories of both languages have been summarized. The similarities and differences between these two metaphor systems are also analyzed. The results show that metaphor plays an essential role in people's conceptualization of death in both English and Chinese cultures by activating varied aspects of people's knowledge, cultures and experiences, which supports the claim of Lakoff (1980) that metaphor is not merely a rhetorical device, but a way of conceptualization.

Issue date

2016.

Author

Fang, Xiao Jun

Faculty
Faculty of Arts and Humanities (former name: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities)
Department
Department of English
Degree

M.A.

Subject

Metaphor

Epitaphs

Supervisor

Pang, Kam Yiu

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Location
1/F Zone C
Library URL
991001627949706306