A Comparative Study of the Conceptual Metaphors of “Head” in English and Chinese

本研究基于认知语言学概念隐喻理论，对英汉语中“头”的概念隐喻进行系统对比分析。研究发现，英汉语“头”的隐喻表达在空间隐喻、实体隐喻及结构隐喻层面存在显著共性，该共性源于人类共有的身体构造与生活体验。但受地理环境与文化思维差异影响，二者亦呈现明显区别。本研究为揭示跨语言认知机制共性与文化特异性提供了例证，对跨文化交际与语言教学具有启示意义，未来也可进一步探讨其他人体隐喻在不同语言中对隐喻认知的更深层次影响。This study is based on the conceptual metaphor theory of cognitive linguistics, and conducts a systematic comparative analysis of the conceptual metaphor of “head” in English and Chinese. Research has found that the metaphorical expression of “head” in English and Chinese has significant similarities in spatial metaphor, entity metaphor, and structural metaphor, which stem from the shared body structure and life experience of humans. However, due to differences in geographical environment and cultural thinking, there are also significant differences between the two. This study provides examples to reveal the commonalities and cultural specificities of cross linguistic cognitive mechanisms, which has enlightening significance for cross-cultural communication and language teaching. In the future, we can further explore the deeper impact of other body metaphors on metaphorical cognition in different languages.