短語動詞的認知隱喻研究

中圖分類號：H31 文獻標識碼：A 文章編號：1008-925X(2012)06-0222-02

Abstract：Nowadays， learning phrasal verbs is very difficult for English learners. Using conceptual metaphorical theory to cope with phrasal verbs can be an easier option for English learners. This paper will introduce the way of conceptual metaphor to understand and analyze phrasal verbs.

Key words:particles; phrasal verbs；conceptual metaphor

1. Introduction

This paper is going to discuss phrasal verbs based on the conceptual metaphorical theory. Phrasal verbs are difficult for English learners to understand and use， but analyzing phrasal verbs by the way of conceptual metaphorical theory can be more easily to deal with.

2. Conceptual metaphor

2.1 Introduction of metaphor

Metaphor has got different understandings from different perspectives. Because the traditional opinions about metaphors are out of date and not very proper， this paper will present metaphors from the cognitive perspective.

2.1.1 Traditional point of view on metaphor

In Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines metaphor as “The use of a word or phrase to mean something different from the literal meaning.” Take the case of the foot of the mountain， the word foot is the so called vehicle， while the tenor is something like “lower portion，” and the ground is the spatial parallel between the two relations.

2.1.2 Lakoff Johnsen and conceptual metaphor

In Metaphors We Live By (1980)， Lakoff and Johnsen have made three significant claims about metaphor. Metaphor exists in ordinary languages and it cannot be considered as a mere figure of speech， a way of rhetoric， confined to certain literary types.

2.2 Conceptual metaphor theory

Since Lakoff and Johnsen pointed out the nature of metaphor， a mapping relation between two domains got people’s attention. One is the source domain which corresponds to the traditional notion of the metaphor vehicle， while the other one is the target domain that is equivalent to the traditional metaphor tenor.

Take the analysis of the following metaphorical expressions:

(1) We started out from these premises.

(2) We came to these conclusions.

In these two metaphorical sentences， there is a traveler in the source domain who has moved from one place (1)， and arrived at a place (2). The target domain is reasoning. In the two metaphorical expressions， there is a mapping relation between the two domains.

3. Phrasal verbs in conceptual metaphors

3.1 Introduction of phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are some combinations of a verb with one， sometimes more than one， adverb-like or preposition-like words. These adverb-like or preposition-like words can be called as particles.

3.2 Phrasal verbs and conceptual metaphors

For instance， take up and down as illustrations to analyze the structure of phrasal verbs with some of the conceptual metaphor theory’s motivations to handle with the phrasal verbs. From the perspective of conceptual metaphor， the source domain of up and down is orientation (up/down). The following are examples of this:

(1) He brightened up at their words of encouragement. (emotion domain)

(2) Retail prices were scaled up by 5 percent. (amount domain) In (1)， up indicates that his emotion is positive， and he is happy. In (2)， up means the prices had been increased and became higher than before.

Examples involving down is the following:

(5) He was weighed down with grief. (emotion domain)

(6) The panic pulled stock prices down by 40 percent. (amount domain)

In (5)， the phrasal verbs weigh down indicates the negative facets of emotion. Pull down in (6) can be understood that the prices were dropped by some other inevitable powers.

4. Conclusions:

Phrasal verbs are one of the most difficult points for English learners. A same verb adding different particles can have various meanings and usages. This kind of meaning and usage is very hard for students to deal with. Using conceptual metaphorical theory to understand phrasal verbs can be an efficient way for English learners to cope with.

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