內(nèi)容摘要
本研究從認(rèn)知語言學(xué)角度出發(fā)，探討具有不同文化背景的人對英語
諺語的理解過程，并分析了該理解過程中的認(rèn)知作用問題。與傳統(tǒng)觀點(diǎn)
相反，本研究贊同Lakoff的觀點(diǎn)：諺語理解是一個(gè)直接自動(dòng)的解碼過
程，而不是從字面意思到隱喻的間接轉(zhuǎn)換過程。因此，本研究擬回答下
列三個(gè)研究問題1.諺語理解是一個(gè)自動(dòng)生成過程還是一個(gè)從字面意義
到隱喻的轉(zhuǎn)換過程？其間概念映射是如何發(fā)揮作用的？2.認(rèn)知過程在
隱喻諺語和轉(zhuǎn)喻諺語中的工作機(jī)制是否相同？二者之間有無區(qū)別？3.
認(rèn)知觀是如何幫助人們理解諺語的文化共性和特性的？
本研究采用實(shí)證研究方法，對Lakoff等人提出的諺語理解理論進(jìn)
行驗(yàn)證的研究。實(shí)證分析語料主要來自google.com，《英語諺語集錦》，
和《英漢諺語與文化》兩本書。語料分析步驟為：將所收集到的160余
條諺語進(jìn)行系統(tǒng)篩選、分類、編碼。編碼分為開放式(open coding)和
主軸式(axial coding)兩類。即：將所收集的語料在寬泛分類的基礎(chǔ)
上再進(jìn)行詳細(xì)的相關(guān)分類。然后在以下兩個(gè)理論框架中對編碼語料進(jìn)行
定性和定量分析：1.運(yùn)用Lakoff的“理想認(rèn)知模式(ICM)”和
Gibbs的“概念隱喻假設(shè)(CMH)”,探究在隱喻和轉(zhuǎn)喻兩種諺語理解中
所涉及的認(rèn)知機(jī)制類屬級結(jié)構(gòu)(generic-level structure)和概念映
射(conceptual mapping)。2.檢驗(yàn)Lakoff和Turner提出的“大鏈
接隱喻理論(GCMT)”，在特定文化背景下對諺語理解的解釋能力，并
試圖闡釋人們在完全不同的文化背景下仍能對英語諺語的理解達(dá)成共
識(shí)的原因。
研究發(fā)現(xiàn)如下：1.諺語理解的認(rèn)知過程是直接的、自動(dòng)的，而非
間接轉(zhuǎn)換的；2.認(rèn)知過程在隱喻和轉(zhuǎn)喻兩種諺語理解之間的確有不同
之處；3.在不同文化背景下人類認(rèn)知的共同性是諺語理解的關(guān)鍵；4.
諺語的正確使用依附一定的場合條件，其原因是人們選擇使用諺語的理
由及因素有差異。
在結(jié)論中，本文在宏觀及微觀兩個(gè)層面上對以后研究提出了幾點(diǎn)啟
示，同時(shí)也指出了該研究的局限性。
關(guān)鍵詞：諺語理解；認(rèn)知觀；文化背景

Chapter I Introduction····················································································1
1.1 Topic Statement·························································································1
1.2 Objectives of This Study············································································2
1.3 Significance of This Study·········································································4
1.4 Organization of This Study········································································5
Chapter II Literature Review·········································································7
2.1 Metaphor Study························································································8
2.1.1 Metaphor—the figurative speech of proverbs···································10
2.1.2.Metaphor—a cognitive approach to proverb understanding·············12
2.2 Definition of Proverbs…………………………………………………….13
2.3 Reviews of Cognitive Approaches to Proverb Understanding················14
2.3.1.The Traditional Views······································································15
2.3.2.Extended Conceptual Base Theory(ECBT)···································16
2.3.3.The Idealized Cognitive Model(ICM)···········································17
2.3.4.Conceptual Metaphor Hypothesis(CMH)······································19
2.3.5.The Great Chain Metaphor Theory(GCMT)····································21
2.4 Related Studies at Home··········································································25
Chapter III Research Methodology·····························································27
3.1 Research Framework of This Study.……………………………………..28
3.2.Research Questions..…………………….……………….……………….29
3.3 Data Collection························································································293.4 Analytical Procedures··············································································30
Chapter IV Understanding Proverbs from a Cogniti..