VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST- GRADUATE STUDIES A STUDY ON METAPHORS OF LOVE IN SOME ENGLISH LOVE SONGS IN THE LATE 20? CENTURY FROM COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVE Nghiên cứu 4n dụ về tình yêu va tình nhân trong một số bản tình ca tiếng Anh ở cuối thế kỷ 20 từ góc nhìn tri nhận M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Major: English Linguistics Code: 60220201 Ha Noi, 2015 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST- GRADUATE STUDIES A STUDY ON METAPHORS OF LOVE IN SOME ENGLISH LOVE SONGS IN THE LATE 20? CENTURY FROM COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVE Nghiên cứu 4n du về tình yêu va tình nhân trong một số ban tình ca tiếng Anh ở cuối thế kỷ 20 từ góc nhìn tri nhận M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Major: English Linguistics Code: 60220201 Supervisors: Associate Professor Võ Dai Quang, Ph.D Ha Noi, 2015 DECLARATION I certify that this thesis A study on metaphors of love in some English love songs in the late 20th century from the cognitive perspective is the result of my own research and the substance of this thesis has not been submitted for a degree to any other university or institution. The work was done under the guidance of Assoc. V6 Dai Quang, my supervisor. Ha Noi, November 2015 Nguyen Thi Hong Thu ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the following people for their great supports during my two-year time for the MA course.
First and foremost, I would like to express my deep gratitude to Assoc. V6 Dai Quang, my supervisor, for his clear guidance, insightful comments and dutiful supervision. My deep thanks also go to all the lecturers at University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University- Ha Noi for their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm in their lectures, from which I have acquired valuable knowledge and inspiration to fulfill this minor thesis. With the passion for literature and semantics, I am really interested in the lectures of Prof.
Nguyen Hoa and Assoc. Nguyen Thom which have inspired me to do this study. I also would like to express my sincere thanks to my family any many of my friends and colleagues for their valuable sharing and encouragements. Finally, my sincere thanks are for the people who will give me the precious comments after reading the graduation thesis.
il ABSTRACT In this thesis, the researcher has tried to give an overview of the relevant literature review in the concern of the knowledge related to metaphors basing on the theory of the famous writers, especially Lakoff and Kovecses. This study focuses on the metaphors of love and lovers in the English love songs in the late 20th century from the cognitive perspective. It will help the readers have a deeper sight into theoretical knowledge on metaphors in order to be able to find out, comprehend and analyze the interesting metaphors in songs. The writer also suggests some suitable ways for learners to learn English better, for teachers to give the effective lectures and for readers to translate the texts more exactly.
In the paper, the researcher introduces, analyzes 86 quotes from 68 songs in 16 basic sets of metaphors: "Love is a natural phenomenon," "Love is Game", "Love is war "," Love is music "," Love 1s the light '"," Love is the concrete objects, "" Love 1s madness "," Love is abstract things " "Love is closeness", "Love is heaven", "Love is a religion", "Love is a journey", "Love is living creature", "Love is magic", and "Love is fire", "Love is high/deep". The researcher clarifies the metaphorical images of love in songs, analyzes and categorizes them into 3 subtypes: ontological, structural or orientational metaphors with 16 sets of metaphors. Then, the writer introduces and explains the ways how these metaphors are used as well as their artistic value in these songs. 1H TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION 01.
HH HH ng HH HH Ho nh nnưy 1 1. Rationale of the Study. Aims and objectives of the Study. G1 1111 SH TH HH ng ng 1 3.
Significance of the StUdY 11008. Scope of the Study oo. Method of the SfUỈY.- - G1 SH HH HH tt 3 6. Organ1zafIOn Of SfUY.-- -- c1 HH HH HH ng 3 PART B: DEVELOPMENT 0.
4 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW. Review of theoretical background. Word and its meaningS. Change 0á ii an.
Components of Word Meaning. Concepts of metaphor.‹---«- Error! Bookmark not defined. Classification of metaphor. Classification of conceptual (cognitive) metaphoTs.
Target domain and source domain of conceptual metaphor. Review of previous works related to the theme of the thesis. “Metaphor we live by” (1980) by Lakoff and Johnson. “A holographic study of metaphors concerning love in Chinese” by ReNying Yang HH.
Richard Nordquist on his article “Love is metaphor”. 11 CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. Research-governing orientations .-- -- HH ng re, 12 VN Non.- ---- «+ + + TH TH HH HH Hệ 12 2. Data collection and data anaÌySÏS.
Data collections InStTUIT€TIS. Data analysis teChmiques .-- --- 5 5 5 s1 vn TH ng HH ng rưệt 14 2. Data ch nh. Research pr0CedUF€S.- - ó5 + 11 TH TH kg HH kg ky 15 2.
Reliability and validify. --- --- - nn SH HH HH HH HH Hiệp 16 PS) 0i. 16 CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION. The typical metaphorical images of love and lovers in love songs in the late 20th century from cognitive perspective.
Love is a concrete and real ObJ€C(. Love is a living CT€ATUTE. Love is a natural phenomenOH. LOVE 1S Aa GAME.
Structural metaphors nh. LOVE 1S ITIA(ÏTI€SS. Love is the abstract thing. -- --- «<< 4 +1 k3 ng ng ệt 25 3.
Love 1S T€ÏIBØIOH. Love 1S CÏOS€TI€SS.G- SG HH TH HH ng Hết 28 3. G0 HH HH HH ghi 32 3. Love is the heaV€H.
Love is fi. LOV€ 1S & Wal eee eetcceseeceneceseeceseecssecesseceseecsaeeceaeceseecsaeeceaeeesaeseneeeeaee 36 3. How these metaphorical images are expressed in sonøs. The artistic value of the metaphorical images in songs.
Discussion of findings. - Ác HH HH TH HH TH HH Hệ 39 3. Occurrence of linguistic items used metaphorically in songs. Occurrence of love metaphors in English songs in three subfypes.
HH HH Hàng HH HH hệt 43 1. Concluding remarks and Implications. The typical metaphorical images of love and lovers in English songs. How these metaphorical images are expressed in songs.
The value of these metaphorical images in songs Error! Bookmark not defined. Implications for Ï@ATTI€TS. Implications for t€aCH€TS .-- - -- + 311191 1v ng ng re 45 1.Implications for translators. Limitations and suggestions for further studies.
Rationale of the study Metaphor in language is like a flower of life. Life becomes more beautiful with the colorful flowers and language becomes more legend and lovely with the metaphorical images. Understanding metaphors is crucial to comprehend figurative language in literature and to enhance practicing skills of learning English. Metaphors are used to describe something that the author cannot adequately represent in a literal fashion or in a simple declarative sentence.
They can broaden or bring a fresh perspective to a familiar or overused subject. Writers use metaphors to give clarity to their writing or to paint a visual picture by words. Whatever the author's intent, analyzing the context in which metaphors are used will reveal much about the poem's or prose work's meaning. Adding metaphors when writing stories, poems or songs means adding interest and depth to writing.
Metaphors create more specific and clearer visual images of what the writer is trying to express. Metaphors, which are traditionally believed to be associated with literary or poetic language, are an ideal new land in music world for musicians and the language learners. It is an effective device to make the communication more lively and colorful. By teaching students how to understand metaphors, we can lead them unleash their creativity and imagination.
Metaphors can also be effective in training learners in abstract thought as well as familiarizing them early with literary skills they will need later in their education. Love is a beautiful song in life. People in love create the unique words to give the lovely messengers to each other and with the power of metaphor, love becomes the wings in sky. Metaphors are wonderful device for musicians to write the love songs.
Through the love songs, metaphor is understood and studied more interestingly and effectively. Aims and objectives of the study 2.1, Aims of the study This paper is to investigate metaphorical images of love and lovers used in English songs in the late 20th century from the cognitive perspective. It will help the readers: - Have a deeper sight into theoretical knowledge on metaphor in order to be able to find, comprehend and analyze the interesting metaphors in songs. - Create some suitable ways for learners to learn English better, for teachers to give the effective lectures and for readers to translate the texts more exactly.
Objectives of the study In order to achieve the aims of the study, the objectives will be elaborated into the following research questions: 1. What are the typical metaphors of love in English love songs in the late 20th century from the cognitive perspective? 2. How are the metaphors of love expressed in the love songs? 3. Significance of the study 3.
Theoretical significance This study is to find out typical metaphorical images of love and lovers in the famous English love songs with a view to contributing to the studies of linguistics from cognitive prospective. That how these metaphorical images are expressed in cognition and the artistic value of these images in songs will be analyzed specifically can provide a new look into English literature. Practical significance This research is performed with the purpose of helping Vietnamese learners and teacher of English better understand conceptual metaphors in English songs and then create the suitable tips to apply language flexibly. As a result, they will be able to learn and teach English effectively.
In addition, it can contribute to the teaching of literature, semantics, cultural linguistics applied in Vietnamese universities of foreign languages. Especially, the translators will take the necessary notes when working with metaphors in the process of translation 4. Scope of the study Basing on the theory of the famous writers, especially Lakoff and Kovecses, this study focuses on the metaphors of love and lovers in the famous English love songs in the late 20th century from the cognitive perspective. Method of the study The study is mainly carried out through the documentary analysis and descriptive study with the support of qualitative and quantitative approach.
The data is quantitatively analyzed in terms of the percentage of the occurrence of metaphorical images in all the songs to see the preference for which sets of expressions as well as frequencies of three types of metaphors: structural, ontological, and orientational. Through qualitative approach, the metaphors, after being divided into categories according to the procedure of transferring meaning from the vehicles to the tenors guided by a theoretical lens, will be analyzed in details, synthesized and evaluated. Organization of the study This study includes three parts and 3 chapters: Part A: Introduction Part B: Content Chapter 1: Literature review Chapter 2: Methodology Chapter 3: Findings and Discussion Part C: Conclusion PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW 1. Review of theoretical background 1.
Word and its meanings It is obvious that language is a tool for expressing human thought. It reflects the way people think and view the world around them. Each language has a different characteristic but it is generally expressed through a simply meaning form of language: word. In linguistics, a word is the smallest element that may be uttered in isolation with semantic or pragmatic content.