An investigation into stylistic devices used in ‘The Thorn Birds’ by Colleen McCullough and their Vietnamese translational equivalents

An investigation into stylistic devices used in ‘The Thorn Birds’ by Colleen McCullough and their Vietnamese translational equivalents

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

• 1. 1.1. RATIONALE

Traditionally, metaphor was considered as a matter of language, not a matter of thought. It was assumed that in everyday language, there was no metaphor and it used mechanisms which were not used in conventional language.

However, a new view of metaphor has challenged the traditional theory in a coherent and systematic way. It was first developed in Metaphors We Live By, a seminal study of George Lakoff and Mark Johnson in 1980. The main thesis of the theory is that conceptual metaphor is pervasive in both thought and language.

For decades, natural phenomena have been used in art as conceptual metaphors. It is observed that “rain” and “sunshine” have been unlimited topics of songs. Let us examine the following examples:

(1.1) I don’t wanna sound complaining [52]

But you know there’s always rain in my heart

I do all the pleasing with you, it’s so hard to reason

With you, whoah yeah, why do you make me blue.

(Please please me- John Lennon ft. Paul McCartney)

(1.2) Có mưa ngoài song [54]

Mưa như rớt trong lòng

Giọt mưa khuya nhẹ len vào tối

Tìm chân ai

Chân bước trong đêm dài.

(Những giọt mưa khuya- Trịnh Công Sơn)

In these above examples, the Sadness is Rain metaphor is found. The expression “rain in my heart” and “mưa như rớt trong lòng” correspond to sadness in love. In another examples, we can recognize the Optimism is Sunshine metaphor. Composers consider full of sunshine is full of hopefulness as well as bright future:

(1.3) Baby, please stop crying, stop crying, stop crying [53]

Baby, please stop crying, stop crying, stop crying

Baby, please stop crying

You know, I know the sun will always shine

So baby, please stop crying ’cause it’s tearing up my mind.

(Baby, stop crying- Bob Dylan)

(1.4) Ðường hôm nay dân ta đi tới [54]

Quyết không còn một ngày u-tối

Ðường hôm nay dân ta đi tới

Những tim người rực ngời nắng mai

Triệu nắm tay anh em nối dài.

(Việt Nam ơi vùng lên- Trịnh Công Sơn)

“Rain” and “sunshine” appear with high frequency in both English and Vietnamese 20^th century songs. However, there is hardly a study which describes as well as compares what actually goes behind the word or phrase related to “rain” and “sunshine” in songs. Therefore, I have decided on the research entitled “ A study on conceptual metaphors of “rain”/ “mưa”, “sunshine”/ “nắng” in English vs Vietnamese 20^th century songs”.

• 1. 1.2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

• • 1. Aims

This study aims:

• To clearly identify the conceptual metaphors of “rain”/ “mưa”, “sunshine”/ “nắng” in English vs Vietnamese 20^th century songs.
• To find out the similarities and differences of conceptual metaphors relating to the concept of “rain”/”mưa”, “sunshine”/ “nắng” in English vs Vietnamese 20^th century songs.
  • 1. Objectives

This study is planned:

– To describe the conceptual metaphors of “rain”/ “mưa”, “sunshine”/ “nắng” in English 20^th century songs in terms of cognitive linguistics.

– To describe the conceptual metaphors of “rain”/ “mưa”, “sunshine”/ “nắng” in Vietnamese 20^th century songs in terms of cognitive linguistics.

– To compare the conceptual metaphors of “rain”/ “mưa”, “sunshine”/ “nắng” in English vs Vietnamese 20^th century songs in the light of conceptual metaphors.

• 1. 1.3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research attempts to answer the following questions:

1. What are the conceptual metaphors of “rain” and “sunshine” in English 20^th century songs?
2. What are the conceptual metaphors of “mưa” and “nắng” in Vietnamese 20^th century songs?
3. What are the similarities and differences of conceptual metaphors of “rain”/ “mưa”, “sunshine”/ “nắng” in English vs Vietnamese 20^th century songs?
   1. 1.4. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study mainly focuses on the conceptual metaphors of “rain”/ ”mưa”, “sunshine”/ “nắng” in English vs Vietnamese 20^th century songs in terms of cognitive linguistics. Besides, the research concentrates on analyzing the conceptual metaphors of “rain”/”mưa”, “sunshine”/ “nắng” in songs, not in other forms of art such as poetry, films.

• 1. 1.5. ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

The study covers the following 5 chapters:

Chapter 1– Introduction

Chapter 2 – Literature Review and Theoretical Background

Chapter 3 – Methodology

Chapter 4 – Finding and Discussion

Chapter 5 – Conclusions and Implications

• 1. 1.6. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study is hoped to be a practical piece of work to understand conceptual metaphors, especially the conceptual metaphors related to “rain”/”mưa”, “sunshine”/ “nắng” in English vs Vietnamese 20^th century songs. In addition, it could be used as a good reference for further studies of conceptual metaphors.

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

LITERATURE REVIEW

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Metaphor

1. Traditional Metaphor

In classical theories, metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is compare with another by saying that one is the other (Kövecses, [9]). According to Aristotle [1], metaphor is the transferring of a word into an estranged area.

So far, many linguists and researchers have given out a variety of definitions of metaphors. Black [3] claimed “Many words have both literal and metaphorical meanings. The literal meaning of a word is the most basic sense. A metaphorical meaning is when it is used to refer to something other than this”. Next, Reddy [16] mentioned metaphor as the transference of meaning from one object to another, based on the similarity between the two objects. Later, Halliday [6] defined “ a word is used for something resembling that which it usually refers to”

1. Conceptual Metaphor

LIÊN HỆ:

SĐT+ZALO: 0935568275

F:\DỮ LIỆU COP CỦA CHỊ YẾN\DAI HOC DA NANG\LUAN VAN 2015\LUAN VAN NGON NGU ANH\NGUYEN THI KHANH LY\SAU BAO VE