| Critical Discourse Analysis(CDA), as an approach of studying language has formed in the 1970 s. CDA has inherited critical nature of Critical Linguistics, and has widely assimilated fruits of Sociology, History, Politics, and Semiotics. It aims to explore implicit ideologies and power relations through analysis of language structures to further reveal unfair and unjust linguistic phenomena in reality. Metonymy, as an important conception in Cognitive Linguistics, is not only a figure of speech but also an important cognitive tool for human beings to learn and understand the world. In recent years, with the rapid development of Cognitive Linguistics, linguists have to explore the possibility of the combination of CDA and Cognitive Linguistics. Thus, Cognition-oriented CDA appears. Critical Metonymy Analysis is a kind of Cognition-oriented CDA. It covers the shortage that CDA excessively concerns social factors but ignores individual cognition. Critical Metonymy Analysis brings new vigor and vitality into researches on CDA.Based on CDA and Conceptual Metonymy Theory, this thesis studies the application of metonymy in American and Chinese spokespersons’ remarks in press conferences through Social-cognitive approach. The finial aim of this thesis is to reveal ideologies and power relations in America and China. The findings are:(1) Critical Metonymy Analysis carries on at Semantic, Pragmatic and Cognitive levels;(2) Critical Metonymy Analysis has three functions;(3) the language used by Chinese spokespersons are more powerful than that of American spokespersons.This thesis is of significance in both theory and practice. Theoretically, this thesis can be regarded as an attempt to study on the interface between CDA and Cognitive Linguistics. It enriches studies on Critical Metonymy Analysis. Practically, the analyzing mode in this thesis can throw light upon Critical Metonymy Analysis on other genres, English teaching, etc. |
PDF Full Text Request