vietnamese metaphor viewed from the prototype theory

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF HCM CITY UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL & HUMAN SCIENCES VÕ KIM HÀ VIETNAMESE METAPHOR VIEWED FROM THE PROTOTYPE THEORY (in comparison with English and French metaphor) Major: Comparative Linguistics Code: 62-22-01-10 ABSTRACT OF DOCTORAL THESIS Hồ Chí Minh City - 2011 2 PREFACE 0.1.Reasons for choosing the topic Studying metaphor from the prototype perspective is to combine the two important theories in cognitive linguistics, to give more evidence about prototype effects resulting from the conceptual structure of metaphor. 0.2.Purpose and duty of research -Find out prototype effects resulting from the internal structure and external relations of conceptual metaphor. -Using Vietnamese corpus, in comparison with English and French data, to find out the cross-cultural and cross-linguistic similarities and differences in the metaphorical conceptualization. 0.3.Subject and study sphere French, English and Vietnamese metaphorical and metonymical expressions extracted from two sources: press and literature. 0.4.Research method A.Stefanowitsch’s MPA to collect data Pragglejaz Group’s MIP to identify metaphor G.Steen’s 5-step technique to generalize conceptual metaphor 0.4.1.Manual searching A.Stefanowitsch’s MPA: chooses the metaphorical expressions which contain lexical items relating to the target or/and source domain. 0.4.2.Identify metaphor Pragglejaz Group’s MIP distinguishes between basic meaning and contextual meaning. Properties of basic meaning: more concrete, more precise, historically older, and related to bodily action in the environment. 0.4.3.Set forth metaphorical mapping G.Steen’s 5-step method is used to uncover the conceptual structure underlying the metaphoric expressions. Its basic rule: putting side by side the two concepts in order to display as many correspondences between them as possible. 0.5.Plan of thesis The preface generally introduces the topic, paying attention to new modern approaches in manual search, identification of metaphorical expressions and conceptualization. 3 Besides the preface and conclusion, the content involves two main parts: prototype effects from the internal structure of metaphor and prototype effects in its external relationships. The comparative study is performed with the illustrating examples in the chapters 2-4. Chapter 5 is a contrastive detailed analysis of cognitive structures of the figurative phraseological units containing the manual body part in Vietnamese, English and French. 0.6.History of topic study The studies address different linguistic scopes by empirical approaches of Rosch and the others. The studies are concerned with cognitive metaphor, cognitive metonymy and blends between them. Lakoff’s idealized cognitive model theory (1987) focuses on prototype effects of metaphorical cognitive structure. P.Chilton’s work display the prototype of meanings associated with GET. In Vietnamese, the research of Nguyễn Văn Hiệp about special sentences in prototype perspective, the studies of Lý Toàn Thắng, Trần Văn Cơ concerning prototype theory, of Nguyễn Đức Tồn, Nguyễn Đức Dân concerning metaphor, metonymy. 0.7.New contributions 0.7.1.In theory - Combine the theories of prototype and conceptual metaphor to give evidence of prototype effects resulted from the internal structure and external relationship of metaphor. - Apply new research procedures and methods in Cognitive Linguistics to explain the semantic phenomena in Vietnamse, in comparison with the linguistic structure of the same kind in English and French. - Demonstrate the levels of prototypical structures in polysemy by setting forth the radial category network of the radial network of the spatial preposition QUA - Display the differences in the semantic structure of a polysemantic phenomenon, herein the radial category of the noun NƯỚC in Vietnamese, COUNTRY in English and PAYS in French - Display the cross-language and cross-cultural differences and similarities in the cognitive structures of Vietnamese, English and French phraseological unit containing the manual body part. 4 - Identify prototype effects in the relationship between metaphor and metonymy. 0.7.2. In practice - Research results can be exploited to explain a number of semantic phenomena, and to further research the lexical semantical development in the direction of deriving from prototype. - Research results can serve as a base for contrastive studies concerning cross-cultural and cross-linguistic similarities and differences in the metaphorical conceptualization. - Research results can be used in lexical semantics teaching and learning in the trend of modern linguistics. Chapter 1 – Reasoning Basis of the subject 1.1.Prototype theory Categorization is the central matter of of prototype theory - Classical approach to categorization from Aristotle: category members share the same properties p the members in the category have the equal status and the clear boundary between them. - Wittgenstein’s finding: family resemblance and possible extension of category - Rosch and others’ prototype categorization: empirical method, prototype is the central member of the category, systematically displaying the most emerging features or the most typical natures relative to other members; two principles of categorization: cognitive economy and perceived world structure. - Rosch’s errors and problems result in Lakoff’s idealized cognitive model. 1.2.Some basic notions 1.2.1.Gestalt: organized structure assumes the whole cognitive process. 1.2.2.Idealized cognitive model (ICM) -ICM: complex knowledge network is organized as mental space and plays the role of directing the cognitive processes such as categorization and reasoning. 1.2.3.Prototype effect and prototypicality Prototype effect is the asymmetry in category structure, when some members are more prototypical than the others and display some features of prototypicality such as family resemblance, fuzzy boundary of category. 5 1.2.4.Image schema Image schema: a prelinguistic structure of experience formed in the mind after the continuing recurrence of embodied images, serving as a basis to the processes of developing concepts to organize new concepts. Some basic image schema with the properties and internal structures: PATH, CONTAINMENT, SCALE, PART-WHOLE, LINK, CENTER-PERIPHERY, CYCLE, Chapter 2: Prototype effect in the internal structure of metaphor and among the metaphors 2.1.Internal structure of metaphorical mapping -Metaphorical mapping across the correspondent elements in the source and target domains. -Prototype effect: asymmetry in the internal structure of metaphor because of the one-direction mapping, from source to target. The source concept determines the correspondence in the target, the meaning of the source elements is supposed to be more basic and determines the correspondent element in the target. -Example: the concept HOUSE implies both the material and mental values. “Typical house” in Vietnamese style is not only a residential structure but also implies the FAMILY value. From the source concept “an accommodation of a family,” HOUSE is used to call the spouse in the 3 rd person. Comparing with the concept HOUSE in English and in French. 2.2.Relationship among metaphors: displays by various manner of categorization. 2.2.1.Categorize metaphor 2.2.1.1.Catergorize according to the conventionalization -Difficult to identify the low/high degree of convention. -Conceptual metaphor can be high conventionalized but metaphorical expressions can be unconventional. 2.2.1.2.Categorize according to the nature Metaphor relies on knowledge structure or on image schema. 2.2.1.3.Categorize according to the degree of generalization 6 -Generic metaphor: main structure is very simple, but it plays a critical part in systematizing metaphorical structure. Ex: EVENTS ARE ACTIONS, GENERIC IS SPECIFIC -Specific metaphor: basic structure is detailed. Ex: LIFE IS A JOURNEY, ANGER IS HEAT 2.2.1.4.Categorize according to cognitive function a)Structural metaphor (including image metaphor and situational metaphor): source concept supplies target domain with structured knowledge. Ex: TIME IS MOTION b)Ontological metaphor: experience is conceptualized as something concrete, such as an object, substance, container or person. Ex: MIND IS A CONTAINER, IDEA ARE OBJECTS c)Orientational metaphor: concerning basic spatial orientation realized in the interaction with surrounding environment, such as UP-DOWN, IN-OUT, FRONT-BEHIND, ON-UNDER. Ex. BEING HAPPY IS BEING UP, SAD IS DOWN 2.2.1.5.Categorize according to experience correspondence a)Primary metaphor: source concept displays sensory- motor experience, targe concept reflects body response (evaluation, judgement, estimation, reasoning) to these experiences. Ex: KNOWING IS GRASP, CAUSE IS FORCE, FEELING IS LIQUID b)Complex metaphor: combined primary metaphors. Ex: IDEAS ARE BUILDINGS, COMMUNICATION IS COOKING, THINKING IS TRAVELING J.Grady’s categorization according to experience correspondence is considered as an improvement of conceptual metaphor theory, since it is more systematical and can resolve some remaining problems in conceptual metaphor. It is also the categorization closer to prototype categorization due to relying on sensory-motor experience in surrounding environment. 2.3.Metaphorical hierarchy by Lakoff Lakoff and Johnson (1980) point out that “metaphorical mappings do not occur isolated from one another. They are sometimes organized in hierarchical structures,” resulting in complicated metaphorical systems. Ex. A hierachy with three levels: “LIFE IS A JOURNEY” at basic level, “EVENT 7 STRUCTURE METAPHORS” at superordinate level, “LOVE IS A JOURNEY, A CAREER IS A JOURNEY” at subordinate level. 2.4.Metaphorical hierarchy with the same source domain “STREAM” Most of the linguistic expressions with (an) element(s) relating STREAM (such as flow, downstream, upstream, pour, drift, wave, plunge,…) show some features connected with one another: the continuing change by time and the stability to some extent. These expressions are a source of data to identify the mappings having the same source STREAM, such as: LIFE IS A STREAM, MONEY TRANSACTION IS A STREAM, WORKING IS A STREAM, A MARKET IS A STREAM, PRODUCTION IS A STREAM…The element underlying these conceptual metaphors is the continuing movement of living activities by time, so they can be generalized as a central metaphorical mapping LIVING ACTIVITIES ARE A STREAM. “prototypical meaning” of this metaphorical hierarchy is the continuing movement of a stream, and the central mapping is identified with the prototypical features as to culture, conceptualization, motivation and language. 2.5.Metaphorical hierarchy with the same targe THINKING Assemble linguistic expressions with (an) element relating to THINKING and set forth the mappings having the same target THINKING. Thinking is no longer an abstract concept if it is considered as a stream flowing in the “CONTAINER” of mind. Thought is a physical object which people can “see”, that is, they can own, hold, grasp thought and whenever they need to express, they can “get it out” for the others’ grasping, or “getting” and “understanding”. With “thought” object in hand, people can examine, measure and evaluate to have the best use. Vietnamese people still conceptualize THINKING as a process of growing, from brooding, cultivating, sowing, and then harvesting, storing, processing and cooking. The main meaning focuses are in turn “owning and transfer,” “value of thinking,” “reproduction, processing” CHAPTER 3: IMAGE SCHEMA AND METAPHOR 3.1.Relationship between image schema and metaphor 8 3.1.1.Metaphorical mapping shows itself image schema. -Relationship between source and target in metaphorical mapping considered as interrelation in the schema CONTAINER -The mapping from source to target understood by the schema PATH 3.1.2.Image schema forms a basis for metaphor structure Image schema can activate as a type of special domain (Clausner & Croft, 1999) and a source domain in the metaphorical mapping, as in the metaphors MIND IS A CONTAINER, TIME IS MOVEMENT, CAUSE IS FORCE. The grasp schema consisting of two phases activate as a prototype concept for a range of metaphorical expressions: cho rằng, cho thấy, cho biết, nhận rằng, nhận biết, nhận ra, nhận thấy, đưa ý kiến, góp ý, The process of “GIVING-RECEIVING” information can be represented by a configuration of vectors in a three-dimensional physical space as supposed by P.Chilton. 3.1.3.Metaphoric mapping preserves internal logic of image schema TIME IS A CONTAINER: “at a moment”, that is within the CONTAINER and that can’t be at this moment and at the other moment. 3.2.Transformation of image schema -Many image schema can superimpose each other -The image schema can transform from this shape into the other one, this phenomenon plays the important part in forming lexical subcategories of polysemy. -The image schema can transform, superimpose, so the metaphorical mapping also can be formed from the combination of many image schema in the source domain. 3.3.Metaphor and radial model Radial category model of polysemy is an approach to semantic access from prototype perspective. 3.3.1.Polysemy in traditional view 3.3.2.Polysemy from the perspective of cognitive linguistics In cognitive linguistics, a typical lexical unit is polysemous, consisting of a cluster of senses related to each other by the cognitive principles of generalization such as metaphor, 9 metonymy, generalization, specification, and schema transformation, forming a network organized around a prototype value. 3.3.3.Analyzing polysemy by Lakoff (1987) Lakoff distinguishes the senses of preposition OVER, based on the change of direction of TR, the configuration of LM and the nature of the relation between TR and LM. Analyzing in Lakoff style results in a category semantic network unlimited of the number of distinct senses. 3.3.4.Principled polysemy of Tyler & Evans (2006) Criteria of distinguishing senses: a sense must be different from other senses, there must be the cases in which senses are independent from contexts. Criteria of identifying central sense or prototypical sense: earliest attested meaning; predominance in the semantic network; relations to other prepostions; ease of predicting sense extensions. 3.4.Radial category model of Vietnamese preposition “QUA” Tyler & Evans’ approach is used to set forth the radial category model of spatial preposition QUA. Some Vietnames examples are analyzed for the distinct senses of QUA. The opted prototypical sense is “moving from here to the other side of some entity.” Three variables in comparison with the prototype value: the moving entity TR, the landmark LM and the path of TR. The 10 modification of these variables results in three different clusters of senses -Each cluster of senses formed by the change of the variables from the prototypical sense. -Prototype of metaphor is also prototype of polysemous word. -Metaphor occupies the peripheral position in the sense meaning, displaying the part of metaphor is extension of lexical system. 3.5.Radial category model of NƯỚC -Analyze the process of sense shift of the noun NƯỚC and point out the distinguishing senses of NƯỚC form a semantic network organized around a central sense, herein called prototypical sense. -The range of distinct senses of NƯỚC is organized by paying attention to the factors such as prototype or prototypical sense, process of sense shift, conceptual structure and context. -The prototypical sense of NƯỚC (water) is chosen as “LIQUID”. The derived sense clusters concern the qualities of liquid, such as water surface, time of usage, and movement of liquid. -A specially derived sense of NƯỚC is “TERRITORY”. The shifting motivation is the Vietnamese conception about land and water, two unseparable factors in the mind of Vietnamese people. The combination of land and water form the sense of “territory” and can be shortened to become “water” and generalized to bring the sense of “nation” to any political territory in Vietnamese. -The radial category model of NƯỚC manifests the semantic network of a polysemous word, showing the flexibility and complexity of conceptual structure representing semantic structure of a noun, as well as the role of water in the mind of Vietnamese people in the wet rice culture. The radial category models of COUNTRY (in English) and PAYS (in French) are also set forth to contrast with the model of NƯỚC. The prototypical sense of NƯỚC is LIQUID, while the prototypical senses of COUNTRY and PAYS are “strip of land” The different levels of complexity among the three radial models point out the flexible process of sense shift in Vietnamse 11 and the copious capability of idea connection of Vietnamese people. CHAPTER 4 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN METAPHOR AND METONYMY 4.1.Distinguish metaphor and metonymy 4.1.1.Resemblance a)Both metaphor and metonymy are cognitive tools b)Neither metaphoric expressions nor metonymic expressions appear incidentally and in isolation, but in larger groups – conceptual metaphor and conceptual metonymy. Ex: The expressions such as “Anh nung nấu ý định; Người nghe cũng như đang nuốt lấy từng lời; Chuyện nóng sốt của truyền thông Việt Nam ” belong to the conceptual metaphor IDEA IS FOOD. “Cô vô cùng ngạc nhiên khi bắt gặp một khuôn mặt quen thuộc; Họ có ba mặt con; Hắn phải nuôi ba miệng ăn ” are of the conceptual metonymy PART FOR THE WHOLE. c)Both metaphor and metonymy are the mappings across the conceptual elements. d)Bothe metaphor and metonymy can be conceptualized, in the sense that they form part of daily conceptual network and are used naturally and unconciously. e)Metaphorical expressions and metonymical expressions determine the source elements in the mapping and specify the corresponding targe elements, so they are all the means for extending the usage of a language. f)Both metaphorical mapping and metonymical mapping prove to be image schemas:PATH and CONTAINER. 4.1.2.Difference 4.1.2.1.The number of domains taking part in the mapping The metaphorical mapping across two domains (different domain matrix); the metonymical mapping within a domain or between two domains in the same domain matrix. 4.1.2.2.Metaphor is understanding a conceptual domain by another conceptual domain through resemblance – Metonymy is access to cognize other concepts in the same domain (or in the same domain matrix) through contiguousness. 4.1.2.3.Metaphor arises between the concepts – Metonymy can take place between the semantic part of a word. 12 4.2.Relationship between metophor and metonymy The different opinions concerning the relationship between metaphor and metonymy generally consist of two conceptions: 1)metonymy is part of metaphor (an element, a motivation or the basis of metaphor); 2)metaphor and metonymy considered as prototype or pure metaphor/metonymy at the two ends and in the middle are the cases in which metaphor transfers to metonymy (and vice versa), resulting in interactions of metaphor and metonymy with fuzzy boundary. 4.2.1.Metonymy as part of or motivation of metaphor -Almost all of EMOTION metaphors (anger, joy, sadness, fright…) have metonymical motivation. Some sentiment can have the physiological effects and form the metonymic relation EFFECT FOR CAUSE -The source domain of a metaphor can be part of the target domain and take part in the metonymical relation PART FOR THE WHOLE. -The metaphorical mapping UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING can be considered as the metonymical mapping SEEING FOR UNDERSTANDING, if the sensorimotor feeling and knowledge are seen as in the same domain. 4.2.2.Metonymy-based metaphor Considered as an intermediate notion, metonymy-based metaphor is the mapping involving two domains based on or resulted from an only domain. Some metonymy-based metaphors: HAPPY IS UP/SAD IS DOWN; SIMILARITY IS CLOSENESS/DIFFERENCE IS DISTANCE; OBJECTIVE IS DESTINATION 4.2.3.Metonymy-metaphor continuum Gunter Radden’s metonymy-metaphor continuum is a process in which “metonymy shades over into metaphor. In the transitional area, metaphor can emerge from metonymy and bae on metonymy.” In Ruiz de Mendoza’s metonymy-metaphor continuum, pure metaphor and pure metonymy at the two ends, in the middle is a process without clear-cut boundaries from metaphor to metonymy (and vice versa) 4.2.4.Metaphtonymy of Louis Goossens 13 Goossens identifies 4 forms of interaction between metaphor and metonymy, consisting of two kinds: integrated metaphtonymy and cumulative metaphtonymy. 4.2.5.Patterns of conceptual interaction of Ruiz de Mendoza and Diez Velasco Mendoza puts forward an approach of diagrammatizing the conceptual interaction of ICMs. Based on two criteria: domain where the metonymical mapping takes place (source or target of metaphor) and metonymy scale (the whole metaphor domain or only one of the corresponding elements), Mendoza suggests 4 patterns of metaphtonymy, and some linguists add to have 8 patterns of metaphtonymy in all. 4.3.Relationship between metaphor and metonymy in proverbs 4.3.1.Cognitive nature of proverb Metaphor GENERIC IS SPECIFIC or metonymy SPECIFIC FOR GENERIC 4.3.2.Cognitive mechanism in “Xa mặt cách lòng” -“Out of sight, out of mind” in English and “Loin du yeux, loin du coeur” in French: -The semantic structure relies upon the relationship between metaphor and metonymy of the concepts: mặt/lòng, sight/mind, yeux/coeur. -The different nuances of meaning in the three proverbs result from the conceptual difference of the concepts LÒNG, MIND and COEUR. -The metonymy BODY PART FOR PERSON from the concepts MẶT/SIGHT/YEUX. -The metaphor BODY IS A CONTAINER FOR THE EMOTIONS, MIND IS A CONTAINER FOR EMOTIONAL IDEAS; HEART IS A CONTAINER FOR THE EMOTIONS. -The domain matrix of concept “LÒNG” demonstrates that LÒNG takes part in the metonymical mappings “LÒNG THAY CHO TRÍ ÓC, LÒNG THAY CHO CẢM XÚC” (BODY FOR MIND; BODY FOR EMOTIONS) 4.3.3.Cognitive mechanism in “Tức nước vỡ bờ” -equals ” It’s the last straw that breaks the camel’s back” in English and “C’est la goutte d’eau qui fait deborder le vase” in French. 14 -The metaphorical mapping GENERIC IS SPECIFIC: the mapping from 3 concrete situations into general situation, a range of difficulties push tensions to a threshold limit and only a very bit difficulty is enough to bring everything to collapse. -The GREAT CHAIN OF BEING metaphor exists among the forms of existence of different levels: from lower form of existence, such as natural phenomenon, physical objects, animals, to circumstances, situations of people (higher form of existence in the great chain of being). CHAPTER 5: ANALYZING COGNITIVE MECHANISM OF THE FIGURATIVE PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS CONTAINING THE MANUAL BODY PART (IN CONTRAST WITH ENGLISH AND FRENCH) 5.1.Purpose of analyzing and comparing -“Hand” is one of the most used body parts p the metaphorical expressions containing this body part prove to be clearly embodied. -Set forth the metaphorical and metonymical mappings relating to these figurative phraseological units in Vietnamese, English and French. -Demonstrate the chances to form double metonymies as a case of conceptual interaction. -Introduce Ruiz de Mendoza’s approach to conceptual diagrammalizing and apply these patterns to illustrate the interaction between metaphor and metonymy in the figurative phraseologies. -Compare the mappings and conceptual interaction in the Vietnamese, English and French phraseological units having the manual body part. 5.2.Analyzing the figurative phraseological units containing the manual body part 5.2.1.In Vietnamese 5.2.1.1.Metaphor CONTROL IS HOLDING IN HAND; POSSESSION IS HOLDING IN HAND; BEGIN TO ACT IS SHAKING HANDS Image metaphors (handrail, ) 5.2.1.2.Metonymy 15 The metonymies is identified, based on the ICM “PERSON”, “HAND,”and the elements concerning HAND and lying in the domain HAND. HAND FOR ACTION/ACTIVITIES (chung tay, luôn tay, nhanh tay ); GESTURE FOR ACTION/ACTIVITIES (thẳng tay, buông tay, chùng tay, ); HAND FOR CONTROL trong tay, sa/rơi vào tay ); BEHAVIOUR FOR STATE OF MIND (tay bắt mặt mừng) 5.2.1.3.Conceptual interaction Two types of conceptual interaction: double metonymy and metaphtonymy a)Double metonymy: there exist two patterns of double metonymy in Vietnamese units: interposing double metonymy and parallel double metonymy. -Interposing double metonymy: domain expansion (tay đôi, tay ba, tay tư, ) and domain reduction (đầu tay) -Parallel double metonymy The structure combined by TAY and another constituent of profession category (tay giám đốc, tay công nhân, ), activity/skill (tay bơi, tay đua,…) or equipment (tay vợt, tay súng, tay chắn ), is a special conceptual one in Vietnamese called parallel double metonymy, because it combines parallelly two metonymical mappings. Some idioms, such as “tay năm tay mười,” “tay hòm chìa khóa” are also the results of double metonymic mappings. -“Tay năm tay mười:” metonymies HAND FOR ACTIVITY, DEFINITE QUANTITY FOR INDEFINITE QUANTITY. Two elements “năm, mười” map into the domain INDEFINITE QUANTITY to imply that the degree is too much to 16 be defined. As a resutlt, the general meaning is “busy working so much.” -“Tay hòm chìa khóa:” combines the metonymies HAND FOR CONTROL and MEANS FOR ACTIVITY MEANS. b) Metaphtonymy -“nhúng tay”: HAND FOR ACTIVITY and PROBLEM IS MASS OF WATER. -“rơi vào tay, sa vào tay”: HAND FOR ACTIVITY and GOOD IS UP, BAD IS DOWN -“nặng tay, nhẹ tay”: HAND FOR ACTIVITY and SEVERITY IS HEAVY/HARD-EASINESS IS LIGHT/SOFT -“ra tay, xuống tay, trở tay”: HAND FOR ACTIVITY and CHANGE IS MOTION -“xuôi tay”: ACCOMPANIED BEHAVIOUR FOR RESULT and DEATH IS MOTIONLESS -“lên tay”: HAND FOR SKILL and MORE IS UP/ LESS IS DOWN -“non tay”: HAND FOR SKILL and EXPERIENCE IS PLANT ((metonymic reduction of one of the correspondences of a metaphoric target) -“bẩn tay”: HAND FOR ACTIVITY and MORALITY IS CLEAN/IMMORALITY IS DIRTY (metonymic reduction of one of the correspondences of a metaphoric source) -“mát tay”: HAND FOR SKILL and TENSION IS HEAT (metonymic reduction of one of the correspondences of a metaphoric target) 17 -“bó tay, lót tay, tay trong, chỉ tay năm ngón”: metonymic expansion of a metaphoric source. 5.2.2.In English and French 5.2.2.1.Metaphor PROPRIETARY IS HOLDING IN HAND (saisir entre les mains, mettre la main sur, avoir en main, entre les mains, en main, changer de mains, passer de main en main – in hand, out of hands, off someone’s hands, change hands) CONTROL IS HOLDING IN HAND (prendre en main, tenir la main à, avoir/tenir en main, dans les mains de, avoir quelqu’un bien en main – in someone’s hands, in the hands of, have/hold a whip hand, have/hold/keep in hand, get out of hand, in good hands, in the palm of hand). UNDERSTANDING IS HOLDING IN HAND (avoir bien en main) SITUATIONAL METAPHORS: actions and behaviors need the hand in a certain situation are generalized for all cases. In French: display the respect (baiser les mains), the honesty (avoir la main sur le coeur), begin the work (mettre la main à la pậte) In English: display the respect (be/go cap/hat in hand), the honesty (put hand on heart), working so easily (with one hand tied behind your back); sharing (hold someone’s hand), very quickly (hand over fist) 5.2.2.2.Metonymy HAND FOR PERSON; HAND FOR ACTION/ACTIVITY; HAND FOR SKILL; HAND FOR VIOLENT ACTION; HAND FOR GIVING-RECEIVING ACTION; GESTURE FOR MANNER OF ACTION ((voter à mains levées; applaudir des deux mains – a show of hand, get one’s hands dirty); BEHAVIOURS FOR STATE OF MIND (hand-wringing) 5.2.2.3.Conceptual interaction a)Interposing double metonymy: when two metonymical mappings take place at the element “hand” or “main” HAND FOR PERSON FOR PARTICIPANT: on all hands, on one hand/on the other hand 18 HAND FOR CONTROL FOR POWER: Passer la main HAND FOR SKILL FOR HANDWRITING: avoir la belle main HAND FOR ACTIVITY FOR INFLUENCE: have a hand b)Metaphtonymy Some cases of metaphtonymy with the same meaning in Vietnamese: -In French: souiller la main, avoir la haute main sur, avoir la main légère, avoir la main lourde, avoir la main dure, avoir la main heureuse, avoir les mains liées, avoir les mains nettes, s’en laver les mains -In English: dirty your hands, do a hand’s turn, fall into someone’s hands, gain/get/have the upper hand, have one’s hands tied, with a heavy hand, with a high hand. The statistical data from analyzing the cognitive mechanism of figurative phraseological units containing the manual body part in Vietnamese, English and French show evidence of metonymy-metaphor interaction in all the three languages, that is, the members at the boundary between “category” of metaphor and “category” of metonymy. The mechanism of interaction between two metonymies is different: in Vietnamese there exists the phenomenon of parallel double metonymy, in English and French, that is interposing double metonymy. CONCLUSION The thesis analyzes the prototype effects of metaphor, that is, combines to some extent the two important theories in Cognitive Linguistics – theory of conceptual metaphor and prototype theory. The thesis content consists of two main parts: prototype effect or prototypicality from the internal structure and in the external relationship of metaphor. The asymmetry is the prototype effect in the internal structure of metaphor, since the metaphorical mappings have one direction – from source to target. Relationships among the STREAM-source metaphors and among the THOUGHT-target metaphors are analyzed to find out the likely central or prototypical sense and the likely central mapping. 19 Image schema can be a metaphor prototype or source of prototype effect. Image schema take part in structuring the subcategories of polysemous network. The prototypical structure of two levels display in the radial category model of polysemy. The prototype effect in the relationship between metaphor and metonymy prove in the different cognitive distances between the concepts. Metaphor and metonymy don’t form different clear- cut categories, but display the degree of membership and fuzzy boundaries. The cognitive mechanism in the figurative phraseological units containing the manual body part is analyzed with the approach of modelling, in contrast with English and French to give evidence of prototype effect and cross-cultural and cross-linguistic differences In applying some modern approaches in studying Vietnamese metaphor, in contrast with some English and French structures, the thesis content brings a general view on the complexity of the conceptual metaphor network in particular and the conceptual network in genera. WRITER’S LIST OF PUBLISHED STUDIES 1.“Analyzing the cognitive mechanism of the figurative phraseological units containing the manual body part (in comparison with English), Journal of Language, (No. 267, August 2011), 34-43 2.“Relationship between metaphor and metonymy from the cognitive perspective”, Journal of Social Sciences, (No. 144 August 2010), 49-55. 3.“Capabilities of structure transfer of French comparative idions (in contrast with Vietnamese)”, Journal of Language, (No 213 February 2007) 76-80 4.“Some opinions about the article Functions of ONE in English”, Journal of Language and Life, (No. 104 June 2004), 37-39 20 . The thesis analyzes the prototype effects of metaphor, that is, combines to some extent the two important theories in Cognitive Linguistics – theory of conceptual metaphor and prototype theory. . 1.1 .Prototype theory Categorization is the central matter of of prototype theory - Classical approach to categorization from Aristotle: category members share the same properties p the members. theory. The thesis content consists of two main parts: prototype effect or prototypicality from the internal structure and in the external relationship of metaphor. The asymmetry is the prototype