Abstract

Metaphor is regarded as a linguistic phenomenon and studied as a rhetorical device traditionally. In 1980s, conceptual metaphor theory was mentioned for the first time in Metaphors We Live By published by Lakoff and Johnson from the cognitive view. This is a milestone in the course of cognitive research. Based on this theory, metaphor was viewed not only as a kind of language phenomenon but also a kind of thinking mode and cognitive means. Conceptual metaphor theory provides a new approach to metaphor translation from the cognition linguistic perspective, and the translation of metaphor has been widely discussed in the translation fields.This thesis is intended to investigate the conceptual metaphors used in Xi Jinping’s speeches and their translation methods. Besides, it is found that there are all together six major source domains: journey, human, construction, war, plant, and water. According to different mapping conditions, we can adopt different translation methods. For example, in the similar mapping condition,  literal translation method can be used；in the different mapping condition, free translation and omission can be adopted.

Key words: cognition; conceptual metaphor; political speeches; translation methods

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction-1

2 Literature Review-2

2.1 Researches on conceptual metaphor-2

2.2 Researches on political discourse-3

3 Theoretical Foundation-4

3.1 The definition of conceptual metaphor theory-4

3.2 Classification of conceptual metaphor-5

3.2.1 Structural metaphor-5

3.2.2 Orientational metaphor-5

3.2.3 Ontological metaphor-6

3.3 Characteristics of conceptual metaphor -7

4 Metaphor Translation in Xi Jinping’s Speeches-7

4.1 Conceptual metaphors in Xi Jinping’s speeches-7

4.1.1 Journey metaphor-8

4.1.2 Building metaphor-8

4.1.3 Human metaphor-9

4.1.4 War metaphor-9

4.1.5 Plant metaphor-10

4.1.6 Water metaphor-10

4.2 Translation methods in Xi Jinping’s speeches-11

4.2.1 Translation of metaphor with the similar mapping conditions-12

4.2.2 Translation of metaphor with the different mapping conditions-13

5 Conclusion-15

References-16