Abstract: In our life, metaphor is everywhere. It exists not only in language, but also in our mind and behavior. There are many metaphorical expressions and idioms about animal in English and Chinese languages. This thesis focuses on specific animal images from the cognitive perspective. According to the cognitive metaphor theory, the paper studies the differences and similarities of animal idioms in English and Chinese language and tries to analyze the reasons. It collects many relevant animal idioms from Chinese and English languages. Based on the analysis of differences and similarities of Chinese and English animal metaphors, the author figure out that the animal metaphor and culture are intimately connected. The significance of the paper is to make people understand cultural differences and to promote cross-cultural communication through the study of metaphor in animal idioms.

Key words: animal metaphor；animal idioms；cognition；cross-culture

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Literature Review.2

  2.1 Studies on Metaphors

  2.2 Studies on Animal Metaphors

  2.3 Studies on Animal Idioms

3. Metaphorical Coincidences in English and Chinese Animal Idioms.4

4. Metaphorical Diversities in English and Chinese Animal Idioms.5

  4.1 Same Source and Different Target

  4.2 Different Source and Same Target

  4.3 Vacant Source and Target

5. The Influence of Culture on Animal Idioms in Chinese and English8

6.Conclusion.10

Bibliography.11

Acknowledgements12