An investigation into metaphorical expressions of "love is a journey" in Truyen Kieu by Nguyen Du and their equivalents in the English version by michael counsell

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to examine the visible metaphor: ―LOVE IS A JOURNEY‖ in the Truyen Kieu Tale by Nguyen Du and then compare these metaphorical expressions with those in the English version translated by Michael Counsell. The research bases on the framework of cognitive linguistics in general and of Lakoff and Johnson‘S ideology of metaphor, Metaphors We Live By (1980) and by Kövecses in his book Metaphor (2010) The comparison between the authentic metaphorical expressions with the translated ones to find out the similarities and the differences between the original and the translated. The study has pointed out the similarities as well as the differences of conceptual metaphors denoting LOVE IS A JOURNEY in both versions. The data for analysis were taken from the two versions with 122 samples of conceptual metaphors of LOVE IS A JOURNEY in total (66 samples in Truyện Kiều by Nguyen Du and 56 samples in English version by Michael Counsell. Besides giving an in-depth understanding of conceptual metaphors of LOVE IS A JOURNEY in Truyen Kieu by Nguyen Du and English version by Michael Counsell, the research is carried out with the hope of adding the voice to the variety of conceptual metaphors. Moreover, making a contribution to the variety of conceptual metaphors is also our desire. In addition, implications of the thesis could be a useful reference for those who are interested in teaching and learning conceptual metaphors.