A Comparative Study Of Conceptual Metaphors In Buddhist And Biblical Idioms

The present thesis, based on conceptual metaphor theory and culture knowledge, is an attempt to make a comparative study of metaphors in English and Chinese religious idioms. In this thesis, a lot of examples have been given to illustrate the existence of conceptual metaphors in English and Chinese religious idioms. The author aims at three purposes:1) to verify the universality of conceptual metaphor by applying it to Buddhist and Biblical idioms. Make further recognition of the concept that conceptual metaphor is based on human's experience, they exist widely in religion as well; 2) to find out the similarities and differences between English and Chinese conceptual metaphors of religion, summarizing their common and different conceptual metaphor through the analysis of the corpus; 3) to explore the causes underlying these differences and similarities from a cultural perspective, which is to further testify that conceptual metaphor is culture specific.Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used in this study. Qualitative judgments are initially necessary to establish what will be counted as metaphor. First, the author collects the metaphors from the data according to Steen's (2002) five-step procedure for metaphor identification. Second, the author tries to classify these metaphors and abstract the conceptual metaphors from the data according to Lakoff and Johnson's conceptual metaphor theory, and the frequency of metaphors and conceptual metaphors will be measured. Third, the author gives an analysis of the similarities and differences of Buddhist and Biblical idioms, and makes further explanation of the culture involved.This thesis makes comparative analysis of conceptual metaphors in both Buddhist and Biblical idioms. Through detailed analysis a clear image of religious idioms is revealed. Combining the quantitative and qualitative study, this thesis testifies the universality of Lakoff's conceptual metaphor theory. After analysis we find similar and different conceptual metaphors in both Chinese and English data. Finally, the author also explores the factors underlying these differences and similarities of conceptual metaphors by making comparison between conceptual metaphors in the data, which amplifies cultural coherence of conceptual metaphor.Both Buddhist scripture and Bible are precious cultural heritage in human history. They are inexhaustible in supply and always available for use in literature, and refresh language time and time again. Idioms as a special form of language expression, they are loaded with cultural information such as history, cultural psychology, natural environment, etc. A juxtaposed examination of the conceptual metaphors in idioms from two different languages can highlight some important similarities and differences in languages and in people's thought, help us appreciate the cultures and the peoples who speak the languages. Therefore, to compare the metaphor in different religious idioms has important significance. Firstly, the study of conceptual metaphors in Chinese and English data offers evidence for Lakoff's conceptual metaphor theory. Secondly, the study of conceptual metaphors in Buddhist and Biblical idioms will give some help to the systematic study of metaphors in religious discourse. Thirdly, the findings are beneficial to the research of culture teaching in language teaching and learning, and it will help the language learners learn idioms more easily and conveniently.