A Research On Trope Of English Vocabulary

Modern semantics merges with other related disciplines. Due to openness and compatibility of semantics, it achieves quite a great development. Semantics tends to prove into meanings from different perspectives. Semantic system is complicated, the meaning of each word may vary with different factors. Polysemy and multiplicity of word meaning has been a general phenomenon of language. Trope is a relatively special type of meaning in polysemous words:it is recognized through association or comparison to convert directly related things or concept into another. In other words, trope can not refer to the original meaning of things or concept, while it must represent another meaning which has relationship with the original one. The trope phenomenon is a complex problem in semantic system. In the study of English, one word could have two or more tropes through association, metaphor and metonymy which extend their meanings.Cognitive linguists improve the development of semantic research by means of the cognitive theory. Under the traditional language perspective some unresolved language problems get reasonable explanation. The trope of English vocabulary is a cognitive process which uses language symbols to understand language. Trope can be realized by metaphor and metonymy. Metaphor plays an important role in trope while association is the basic form of metaphor. Understanding of metaphor can be conducted by various kinds of associations.The meaning of words are restricted and influenced by context. Only when put the words into context, will the word meaning be fulfilled. So, confirmation of the transferred meaning is achieved through examination of the context which refers to discourse that surrounds a language unit and helps to determine its interpretation.This thesis studies the trope formation of English vocabulary. With modern semantic theory and cognitive metaphorical theory system the thesis is to analyze the semantic structure of trope and the ways how to form trope, also put the trope problem into the context to discuss the internal and external factors of trope formation.The thesis is composed of six parts:the first part serves as the introduction to the thesis which includes the background, aims and significance, contents, objects and values of the thesis. Chapter one is about the literature review. Chapter two provides a summary of trope of English vocabulary. On the basis of discussing the essence of meaning, it is to analyze the definition and derivative relation of trope. Chapter three focuses on the ways of trope formation, analyzes the change of seme and cognitive factors, with the focus being the analysis of the association in metaphor. Chapter four analyzes the context effect on trope. The context includes the internal and external factors of language. Internal factors include lexical collocation relation, the grammar and syntax context. External factors include social culture, history, national customs and communication reality factors. The last part is the conclusion, it makes a general summary of this thesis and points out the practical significance.