Conceptual Integration Theory and Its Application to Metaphor Study—A Case Study of Mao’s poems.docVIP

Conceptual Integration Theory and Its Application to Metaphor Study—A Case Study of Mao’s poems 　　Abstract. This paper adopts Conceptual Integration Theory to make interpretation and explorations on the metaphor in poems written by Mao Tsedong and the hidden cognitive mechanism. It aims to further display the strong explanatory power of the theory in metaphor analysis and tries to expand its application vision. Metaphor widely exists in poems. Poems written by Mao Tsedong have given a full, hearty, pleasurable expression to the feelings, ideals and believe of Mao through the rich metaphorical images. This paper bases on the characteristics of poems written by Mao Tsedong. It divides the metaphor imageries included in the poems into three parts, which are natural phenomena, social activities and mankind creations. After that, it selects poems written by Mao Tsedong and applies them into analysis through Conceptual Integration Theory. Key words: Conceptual Integration Theory; integration; metaphor; imagery; poems written by Mao Tsedong 1 Introduction Blending has included the metaphor reflection, which has aroused the heat discussion of people. This kind of discussion is not only restricted in the field of language learning, but also extends to the science discovery, graph design, mathematic thinking and computer interface and so on. Metaphor is one of the figures of speech frequently used in our expression. A better understanding of this seemingly illogical modification is undoubtedly of great benefit for common readers. Most of the traditional study of this rhetoric device focused on its aesthetic function. Unfortunately they failed to scientifically illustrate the concrete cognitive process of its meaning construction. In this dissertation, the conceptual integration theory advanced by Fauconnier and Turner is applied to the interpretation of transferred epithet. The purpose is to test the adequacy and descriptive power of the blending framework and t