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摘 要:转喻不仅是一种修辞手段,而且是普遍的语言现象,更是基本的思维方式,即用突显、易感知、易记忆、易辨认的部分代替整体或其他部分,或用具有完形感知的整体代替部分的认知过程。英语毕业论文根据同一认知域内整体与部分的配置,转喻可分为两大类:整体与部分、或整体的部分之间互换而产生的转喻。转喻既受相互竞争的信息、经济、认知突显和社会需要所制约,又能协调并实现这些准则。 关键词:转喻 认知 制约准则 Abstract:Metonymy is not only a rhetorical device but also a ubiquitous feature of language. Moreover, it is a basic mode of thinking—a cognitive process in which people employ the salient, well-understood and easy-to-perceive part to stand for the whole or another part of thewhole, or to select the whole as a gestalt to represent one of its part. According to the configurations of the whole and its parts within acognitive domain, metonymy falls into two broad categories—metonymies that arise from the interaction between the whole and its parts andthosethat arise from the interaction among the parts of a whole. Metonymy is governed by the competing principles of informativeness,economy, cognitive salience and social needs. On the other hand, it can nicely coordinate and realize those principles. Key Words:metonymy; cognition; governing principles 在认知语言学探讨中,隐喻一直占据显赫地位,受到探讨者的重视。而转喻(metonymy)①则扮演着灰姑娘的角色。其实转喻更具本原性,即语言本质上是转喻的。(Radden&Kovecses, 1999)转喻比隐喻更为普遍。在许多甚至所有情况下,转喻是隐喻映射的基础。(Barcelona, 2017)本文主要从认知角度研讨转喻的本质、分类及其制约准则。 1.转喻的本质 传统观点认为转喻是用某事物的名称替换相邻近事物名称的修辞手段。例如, (1)中的Proust为转体(vehicle),其转喻目标(target)是Proust的著作。 (1) Proust is tough to read.② 但认知语言学发现转喻不仅是一种修辞手段,而且是普遍的语言现象。(Lakoff&Johnson, 1980)文学中的转喻只是日常转喻的延伸和发展。语言交际受相互竞争的信息最大化和经济最大化准则制约,交际者只能选择具有突显、重要的部分代替整体或整体的其他部分,或用具有完形感知的整体代替部分--—即应用转喻进行交际。因此,语言本质上是转喻的。Radden &Kovecses(1999)还从语义三角联系论证语言的转喻性。他们认为,不仅语言形式与形式之间存在转喻(如SARS与Severe Acute RespiratorySyndrome),语言形式与其所指物、以及所指概念与所指物之间也存在转喻联系。语言形式是由人们对客观世界的认知突显所决定的;另一方面,人们只能认识事物本质、重要的方面,而不能认识事物的全部。在语言的词汇、句子和语篇层面上都存在着大量的转喻。 (2) I am all ears. (3) She was able to finish her dissertation. (4) A: Did I get invited to the conference? B: Your paper is too long. 上面(1)中的Proust是典型的词汇层面上的指称转喻(referential metonymy)。(2)中的all ears是句子层面上的转喻,表示专心听。Panther &Thornburg(1999)认为间接言语行为实际上也是一种转喻。(3)一般转指She finished her dissertation。会话含义也是一种转喻现象。(4)是语篇层面上的转喻--—原因代表结果,意即: You are not invitedbecause your paper is too long。 认知语言学发现,和隐喻一样,转喻也具有层次性。某一转喻常体现更抽象、更高层次的转喻准则。在(5)中, face for person的转喻体现更高的转喻准则--—body part for body。而body part for body的转喻又体现part for whole的转喻准则。此外,转喻在语言中的分布呈系统性和一致性。(Lakoff&Johnson,1980)类似例(6)中用地点转指位于其上的机构的转喻在语言中很是常见,这反映了这类转喻的普遍性。 (5) She is just a pretty face. (6) Havana is getting divorced fromMoscow.Wall Street is in a panic.Hollywood is putting out terrible films. 认知语言学认为转喻不仅是一种语言现象,更是人们思维和行为的方式。语言中大量的转喻反映了人们普遍的思维模式。Lakoff和Langacker都从认知角度对转喻进行了探讨。Lakoff(1987)认为,转喻是在同一认知域内用易感知、易理解的部分代表整体或整体其他部分。在转喻中,转体充当参照点并能激活或提供了解转喻目标的心理通道。(7)中的Chicago能分别激活转喻目标“芝加哥市民”、“芝加哥运动队”、“芝加哥市政府”和“芝加哥的申请材料”。 (7) a. Chicago is all excited about the Bulls. b. Chicago has justwon another Championship. c. Chicago was late in sending in its applications. d. Chicago is right here in the stack between Dallasand Memphis. Langacker(2017)研讨了用整体换指称之为活跃区域(active zone)的转喻,如例(8): (8) Roger ate an apple. |
