2。 Literature Review论文网

Nowadays, intercultural communication is becoming more and more frequent。 Since the concept is put forward, intercultural communication has gained many scholars’ attention。 Many famous language scholars are trying their best to do the study on the intercultural communication。 As a common rhetorical device, metaphor is pervasive and indispensable in intercultural communication。 When communicating, lots of people tend to use metaphors which can make the communication more interesting。 Therefore, nowadays, the research of metaphor is of great importance。

In abroad, the study of metaphor has a long history。 It can be traced back to Aristotle。 He holds the view that metaphor is the use of the name of one thing to another。 In 1980, Lakoff and Johnson put forward the conceptual metaphor theory。 They think that metaphor is rooted in human experience。 What’s more, Lakoff had put forward the idea of “Human beings are animals”。 Therefore, there are many scholars do detailed analysis on animal metaphors。 By analyzing the animal metaphors, the scholars want to know about the cultural difference between Chinese and English。 

In China, the study of intercultural communication starts in 1980s。 In 1989, Deng Yanchang and Liu Runqing had made a comprehensive contrast of animal metaphors between Chinese and English。 They had mentioned that animal metaphors have differences in meanings because of the differences of the culture。 That is the reason that Chinese students feel difficult to understand the animal metaphors。 Besides, in 1999, Hu Wenzhong researched intercultural communication from different perspectives, such as psychology, anthropology, sociology and so on。 The research he did provided the theories for analyzing the factors of the differences of animal metaphors。

Although the studies of animal metaphors have made a great contribution, we cannot stop the research。 On the basis of Deng Yanchang and Liu Runqing’ s research, we learn about the different connotation of animal metaphors。 We also understand the difference mainly caused by different culture。 In intercultural communication, the misunderstanding of animal metaphors can lead to pragmatic failures。 However, Deng Yanchang and Liu Runqing did not offer us some suggestions to avoid pragmatic failures so that it is necessary for us to continue to do the research, which can provide us with some suggestions to avoid pragmatic failure。 

3。 Comparative Study on Animal Metaphors in Chinese and English

Animal metaphors have been studied and theorized for a long history of over thousands of years。 They can not only vividly show a certain quality and personality, but also describe some events。 In different culture, the same animal may have different connotations and symbolic meanings。 Meanwhile, different animals may have the same connotation and symbolic meaning in different culture。

3。1 Same animal metaphors with different cultural connotations

People with different cultural backgrounds would have different associations of the same animal metaphors。 Therefore, even the same animal may have different connotations in different culture。 

The animal “dog” is very common in human life。 Both Chinese and English people like to have a dog。 However, the image of the “dog” is different in Chinese and English。 Chinese people often keep a dog for looking after their house。 The dog is a kind of tool used to protect the house so that the status of the “dog” is very low。 What’s more, “dogs” are generally related to unpleasantness in China, such as the phrases “狗东西,狗仗人势”。 Chinese often use those phrases to describe a man who fawns on rich and powerful people。 Sometimes, Chinese may use the phrase “狗改不了吃屎” to describe a man who is hard to change his bad nature。 However, in English, the animal “dog” is very good。 The phrase “man’s best friend” refers to the “dog”。 It can be heard in English communication or seen in English writing frequently (Deng 53)。 Western people often regard dogs as pets。 Some of western people even regard the dog as their children。 They believe that “dog” is the symbol of loyalty, dependability, courage and intelligence。 文献综述