English metaphor expressions based on proper names Vinh university Foreign languages department -------------- ------------- English metaphoric expressions based on proper names (c¸c lèi diÔn ®¹t Èn dô tiÕng anh dùa trªn tªn riªng) Field: Semantics Supervisor: Phan ThÞ V©n H¬ng, M.A Student : Ph¹m Quúnh Nga Class : 45E1_English Pham Quynh Nga, K45E1_English 1 English metaphor expressions based on proper names Vinh, May 2009 Acknowledgements For the completion of this thesis, I have received invaluable help from many people. Firstly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Phan Thị Vân Hương for her great assistance, constant and helpful advice on my study. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to my lecturers at the Foreign language Department, Vinh University for their help and invaluable advices during my studying time. I am grateful to students of the course 45E_English for their help and support for my research thesis. Finally, my warmest thanks are to my relatives and friends for encouragement and support during the time that I study. Vinh, May 2009 Phạm Quỳnh Nga Pham Quynh Nga, K45E1_English 2 English metaphor expressions based on proper names Table of contents Pages Acknowledgements …………………………………………………… i Table of contents ……………………………………………………… ii Part A: Introduction …………………………………………………. 1 1. Rationale ……………………………………………………………… 1 2. Aims of the study …………………………………………………… 2 3. Methods of the study… … … … … … … … … … … … … 2 4. Scope of the study ……………………………………………………. 3 5. Design of the study… … … … … … … … … … … … ……. 4 Part B: Development……………………………………………… 4 Chapter 1: Theoretical background …………………………… 4 1.1. General view …………………………………………………… 4 1.1.1. Word …………………………………………………………… . 4 1.1.2 Word Meaning……………………………………………………. 5 1.1.3 Semantic Change…………………………………………………. 6 1.1.4 Narrowing of meaning……………………………………………. 7 1.1.5 Broadening of meaning…………………………………………… 8 1.1.6 The so – called “degeneration” of meaning………………………. 8 1.1.7 The so – called “elevation” of meaning………………………… . 8 1.1.8 Figures of speech…………………………………………………. 8 1.1.8.1 Metonymy………………………………………………………. 8 1.1.8.2 Metaphor……………………………………………………… . 9 1.2 Metaphor and its characteristics and classification …………… 9 1.2.1 What is metaphor……………………………………………….… 9 1.2.2 Characteristics of Metaphor……………………………………… 1 0 1.2.2.1 Metaphor is the implicit form of “X is like Y in respect of Z”…. 1 0 1.2.2.2 In metaphor an association may be built not only between two physical objects but also between a concrete object and an abstract concept ………………………………………………………………… 1 0 1.2.2.3 The association with the meaning is original considerably weakened and is gradually erased………………………………………. 11 1.2.2.4 In general, metaphor change of meaning is often observed in idiomatic compounds……………………………………………………. 11 1.2.2.5 Metaphor are frequently found in the informal strata of the vocabulary, especially in slang………………………………………… 11 1.2.3 Classification of Metaphor ……………………………………… 12 1.2.3.1 According to the types of similarity…………………………… . 12 1.2.3.2 According to time ………………………………………………. 16 Pham Quynh Nga, K45E1_English 3 English metaphor expressions based on proper names 1.2.3.3 According to part of speech …………………………………… 17 1.2.3.4 According to the types of names……………………………… 17 Chapter 2: A study on the English metaphoric expressions based on proper names…………………………………………… 2 0 2.1 English metaphors based on proper names……………………. 2 0 2.1.1 Metaphor created from eponymous words………………………… 2 0 2.1.1.1 Metaphor based on “Boycott”………………………………… 2 0 2.1.1.2 Metaphor based on “Hooligan”………………………………… 21 2.1.1.3 Metaphor based on “Machiavellian”……………………………. 21 2.1.1.4 Metaphor based on “Pander”…………………………………… 21 2.1.1.5 Metaphor based on “Tawdry”………………………………… . 22 2.1.1.6 Metaphor based on “peeping Tom”…………………………… 22 2.1.1.7 Metaphor based on “smart Alec”……………………………… . 22 2.1.1.8 Metaphor based on “Jack of all trades”………………………… 23 2.1.1.9 Metaphor based on “Philistine”…………………………………. 23 2.1.2 Metaphors based on proper names in English idioms, proverbs and sayings……………………………………………………………… 23 2.1.2.1 Metaphor based on the idioms “happy as Larry”………………. 24 2.1.2.2 Metaphor based on the idioms “Rob Peter to pay Paul”……… 24 2.1.2.3 Metaphor based on the idiom “any Tom, Dick or Harry”………. 24 2.1.3 Metaphors in English based on characters in the literature…… …. 25 2.1.3.1 Metaphor based on the character “Othello”…………………… 25 2.1.3.2 Metaphor related to the character “Don Juan”…………………. 26 2.1.3.3 Metaphor based on the character “Hitle” ………………………. 26 2.1.3.4 Metaphor based on the character “Rip van Winkle”…………… 26 2.1.3.5 Metaphor related to “ painted Jezebel”………………………… 26 2.1.3.6 Metaphor based on “Billy Bunter”…………………………… 27 2.1.3.7 Metaphor based on “Scrooge”…………………………………. 27 2.1.3.8 Metaphor based on “Jekyll and Hyde”………………………… 27 2.1.3.9 Metaphor based on “Sherlock holmes”………………………… 27 2.1.3.10 Metaphor based on “Tarzan”………………………………… . 2 8 2.1.3.11 Metaphor based on “Little Lord Fauntleroy”…………………. 2 8 2.1.3.12 Metaphor based on “Bobby”…………………………………… 2 8 Chapter 3: Metaphors based on proper names in English in comparison with Vietnamese………………………. ………………… 29 3.1 Metaphor based on proper names in English and Vietnamese…. 29 Pham Quynh Nga, K45E1_English 4 English metaphor expressions based on proper names 3.1.1 “Little Lord Fautleroy” and “Mã Giám Sinh” .…………………… 29 3.1.2 “Scrooge” and “HuyÖn Hinh”……………………………………… 29 3.1.3 “Jekyll and Hyde” and “Trịnh Hâm” .…………………………… 29 3.1.4 “Don Juan” and “Së Khanh” .…………………………………… 30 3.1.5 “Painted Jezebel” and “ThÞ Në”…………………………………… 30 3.2. Difficulties in understanding and translating words related to proper names in English idioms and proverbs………………………. 30 3.3. Suggestions to overcome difficulties……………………………… 31 3.4. Some practical exercises………………………………………… 32 Part C: Conclusion……………………………………………… 34 1. Recapitulations………………………………………………………. 34 2. Suggestions for futher studies………………………………………. 35 References………………………………………………………………. 36 Appendix………………………………………………………………… 37 Part A: Introduction 1. Rationale Nowadays, English is the most widely used in the world and plays an important role together with the development of society and technologies. English is not only the effective means of communication but also has progressive effects in many aspects of life. Practically, A study on the similarities and differences between the two languages of the two countries has been one of my concerns when studying at university. It is clear that there are many differences between the two languages of as those in grammar, lexicology, translation, phonetics and so on. However, a plenty of similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese still exist and these can be demonstrated through metaphorical meanings especially metaphors in literature and idiom expressions. This study of metaphor has been traditionally associated with the study of literature, the use of metaphor is not restricted to a language. A good understanding of how metaphor is used in everyday language is not only important for English leaners to increase the vocabulary, but also to understand new and original metaphors when we use them. Pham Quynh Nga, K45E1_English 5 English metaphor expressions based on proper names However, what We want to express here is that idioms and proverbs are the genius of national language that is the key helps learners know more about a nation, as well as customs and culture of each country all over the world. Therefore, studying metaphors related to proper names that has made a deep expression on me for a long time because, we ourself find it so interesting that the proper names not only reflect the concepts but also refer the characteristics of people and places. We always wonder why the following phenomenon, for example, English expression: “He is an Othello” has an equivalent in Vietnamese : “H¾n ®óng lµ ho¹n th” and many cases we cannot find any equivalent of this language’s idioms and expressions and the characters in literature, clearly, most language make use of metaphor but the way individual words used varies from one language to another and each language has its own system and that they cannot always transfer the metaphorical use of a word from one language to another. Importantly, metaphors help readers see the interest, the beauty as well as the culture colour of language which helps learners use and understand correctly and clearly. We hope that learners will understand about metaphors in English, especially metaphors related to proper names that is also the main reason motivating us to carry out this research. 2. Aims of the study The study aims at: + reviewing theoretical background, concerning words, word meaning and metaphor. + presenting some difficulties faced by Vietnamese learners of English in terms of idioms in general and the idioms related to the proper names in particular. + giving some suggested solutions to overcome these difficulties Pham Quynh Nga, K45E1_English 6 English metaphor expressions based on proper names + studying metaphors based on proper names in English idioms and in literature. 3. Methods of the study The study on metaphor is not only in English idioms but also in literature related to the proper names is carried out with comparative methods with a hope that readers could see the role of metaphor in using idioms and literature from some linguists, typical examples and extracted from various types of books. Besides, idioms were collected from different dictionaries to get valuable knowledge for this paper. Furthermore, information related to the study from websites was also looked into in order to complete this study successfully. 4. Scope of the study During the study process, the author has been attracted by metaphor - one of the figures of speech, particularly metaphors from proper names in English idioms and literature. Within the scope of a graduation paper, we cannot cover a research on all types of metaphors. Our main focus is metaphors from proper names 5. Design of the study The study consists of three parts. Part A: Introduction, including Rationale, Aims of the study, Methods of the study, Scope of the study, and Design of the study. Part B: Development, this part is divided into three chapters Chapter 1: Background knowledge on the study. It supplies the definition characteristic, classification and definition. Chapter 2: An analysis of metaphor in English based on proper names. Chapter 3: Metaphors based on proper names in English in comparison with Vietnamese Part C: Conclusion, it gives a summary of the whole study mentioned in the previous parts. Pham Quynh Nga, K45E1_English 7 English metaphor expressions based on proper names Part B: development Chapter 1 theoretical background 1.2. General View 1.2.1. Word The English word, its structure, formation, meaning and history have become the subject matter of the linguistic science called lexicology (Hoang Tat Truong, Basic English Lexicology, 1993, p.2). Semantics or semasiology is considered one of five essential branches of lexicology. According to Hoang Tat Truong (1993, p.2-4), semantics focuses on the meaning of the words (the lexical meaning) because the grammatical meaning is studied in grammar. From the characteristics of semantics, we can see that words and meanings of words play an important role in language study. Most fluent speakers of English seem to know what a word is. They know, for example, that words are listed in dictionaries, that they are separated in writing by spaces, and that they may be separated by paused. However, to give a definition of word that will apply to all types of word in English, we shall not go into a theoretical discussion of how words can best be defined. Instead, we shall consider the word as an uninterruptible unit of structure consisting of one or more morphemes and which typically occurs in the structure of phrases. The morphemes are the ultimate grammatical constituents, the minimal meaningful units of language. For example, the different forms of the verb speak, speak, speaks, speaking, spoke, and spoken are separated words grammatically. Equally, grave (noun) and grave (adjective) are different grammatical words. So are the plural, the plural possessive, and the Pham Quynh Nga, K45E1_English 8 English metaphor expressions based on proper names possessive of the word boy all represented by the pronunciation /b /, but spelt boys, boys’ and boy’s respectively. 1.1.8 Word Meaning According to N.N. Norozova (1985, p.4) the word can be considered as a unit/means of communication by its possessing a meaning. Therefore, among the word’s various aspects, meaning is certainly the most important. Word meaning is what a word/sentence means, i.e. what the word(s) used are conventionally held to mean. According to Hoang Tat Truong (1993, p.92), “meaning of a word reflects reality or expresses human conceptualization of reality, as it were”. Every word combines lexical and grammatical meanings. There exists a close relationship between the grammatical and the lexicon of a language. The grammar of a language and its vocabulary/lexicon are complementary. The vocabulary must be encoded in grammatical structure so as to operate as means of communication and as an important thought. The same lexical meaning is shared by different grammatical forms of one word. E.g: Careful - Carefully In this example, “careful” and “carefully” share a lexical meaning but differ in grammatical meaning. The former is adjective, the later is adverb. Grammatical meaning is the meaning recurrent in identical set of different words and it unites words into big groups with their own grammatical features. For instance, the grammatical meaning of “chair, table, board…” is nouns. Lexical meaning is the realization of concept or emotion. For example, when we hear the word “dog”, our concept is realized and the image of a dog occurs to our mind. According to Hoang Tat Truong (1993, p.54-57), lexical meaning is considered in terms of components and types. Pham Quynh Nga, K45E1_English 9 English metaphor expressions based on proper names In terms of components, lexical meaning is classified into denotational and connotational meanings. - Denotational meaning denotes conceptual and referential meanings (what it refers to). It is understood by convention of members of society. For instance, the word “cat” indicates a common animal with four legs, which is often kept by human beings as pets. - Connotational meaning conveys the speaker’s attitude, emotion and so on. It is the pragmatic communicative value the word acquires by virtue. For instance, “dad” is more friendly than “father”. In terms of types, lexical meaning consists of the direct meaning and the indirect meaning. - Direct meaning directly denotes something without comparing it or associating it with other things. We do not need a context. Direct meaning is also called literal meaning. - Indirect meaning directly denotes something. To have a better understanding it, we have to compare or associate it with other things, i.e. we need a context. Indirect meaning is also called figurative or transferred meaning. For example: On hearing the word “skirt”, we are most likely to think of a type of clothes. That is the direct meaning. However we put it in the sentence “He is always running after the skirt”, the word “skirt” refers to a woman. That is the indirect meaning. Indirect meaning affects the use of figures of speech, such as metaphor, metonymy, hyperbole, and so on. It makes languages more and more abundant. 1.1.9 Semantic Change According to I.Arnold (1986, p.71), semantic changes are arbitrary. They proceed in line with the logical and psychological laws of thought. Pham Quynh Nga, K45E1_English 10