论语义、比喻及文化差异

比喻是世界各民族语言中运用最为广泛的修辞手法。它不仅是一种语言中的修辞现象 ,也是人类对周围事物进行感知和形成概念的工具 ,它是通过一类事物来理解和体验另一类事物的重要手段。正是因为隐喻在语言中的大量存在 ,来自不同语言文化的人们在相互交流时必然会存在理解障碍。由于文化和地域不同 ,英汉两种语言中比喻所采用的喻体也不同。要真正理解隐喻的内在含义 ,光靠词语的语义特征分析不够 ,还必须从语用的角度理解。本文主要探讨如何确定隐喻的含义及其文化差异

A Study of Semantic Meaning, Figure of Speech and the Cultural Difference

The figure of speech is an unusual mode of expression that gives variety or force by using words out of their literal meaning and suggesting similitudes which provoke thought. It is the most widely used rhetoric in all languages as well as a way for people to perceive the new things around them and thus form new concepts. Because of the cultural and geographical difference, the vehicle used is different. The interpretation of the figure of speech, especially the metaphor is not so easy and without effort. The semantic feature analysis is not adequate for the understanding of metaphor. It must be understood pragmatically and on the basis of common knowledge as well as knowledge of cultural difference.