phân tích đối chiếu biểu thức ẩn dụ anger is heat sự tức giận là nhiệt trong tiếng anh và các biểu thức tương đương trong tiếng việt

1
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES





LƯU THỊ HẢI VÂN




A CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE METAPHOR “ANGER IS
HEAT” IN ENGLISH AND THE POSSIBLE EQUIVALENT
EXPRESSIONS IN VIETNAMESE

(PHÂN TÍCH ÐỐI CHIẾU BIỂU THỨC ẨN DỤ “ANGER IS HEAT”
(SỰ TỨC GIẬN LÀ NHIỆT) TRONG TIẾNG ANH VÀ CÁC BIỂU THỨC
TƯƠNG ÐƯƠNG TRONG TIẾNG VIỆT)


Thesis Summary

Field: English Linguistics
Code: 60.22.15

HANOI - 2012

2
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES




LƯU THỊ HẢI VÂN


A CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE METAPHOR “ANGER IS
HEAT” IN ENGLISH AND THE POSSIBLE EQUIVALENT
EXPRESSIONS IN VIETNAMESE

(PHÂN TÍCH ÐỐI CHIẾU BIỂU THỨC ẨN DỤ “ANGER IS HEAT” (SỰ TỨC GIẬN LÀ
NHIỆT) TRONG TIẾNG ANH VÀ CÁC BIỂU THỨC TƯƠNG ÐƯƠNG
TRONG TIẾNG VIỆT)

M.A. MINOR THESIS


Field: English Linguistics
Code: 60.22.15
Course: M.A. 19
Supervisor: Associate Professor VÕ ÐẠI QUANG, Ph.D

HANOI - 2012

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Tables of contents
Page
Part A: Introduction…………………………………………………
1
1. Rationale………………………………………………………………
1
2. Aims and objectives of the study……………………………………
1
3. Research questions…………………………………………………
1
4. Scope of the study……………………………………………………
2
5. Methodology…………………………………………………………
2
5.1. Principles governing the research…………………………………
2
5.1.1 Principles governing the choice of research type…………………
2
5.1.2 Data-related issues………………………………………………
2
5.2. Methods of the study………………………………………………
3
5.2.1. Major methods and supporting methods…………………………
3
5.2.2. Data collection instruments………………………………………
3
5.2.3. Data analysis techniques…………………………………………

3
6. Structure of the thesis…………………………………………………
3
Part B: Development
5
Chapter 1: Literature Review…………………………………………
5
1.1 Review of the previous studies………………………………………
5
1.2. Theoretical background……………………………………………….
6
1.2.1. Traditional approach to metaphors………………………………….
6
1.2.1.1. Substitution theory………………………………………………
6
1.2.1.2. Comparison theory………………………………………………
6
1.2.2. Cognitive approach to metaphors…………………………………
7
1.2.2.1. What is a conceptual metaphor?
7
1.2.2.2. Metaphorical mapping…………………………………………….
8
1.2.2.3. Structure of a conceptual metaphor……………………………
9
1.2.2.4. Types of conceptual metaphors…………………………………
9
1.2.2.4.1. Structural metaphors…………………………………………
9
1.2.2.4.2. Orientational metaphors………………………………………

10
1.2.2.4.3. Ontological metaphors…………………………………………
11
1.2.2.4.4. Conduit metaphors……………………………………………
12
1.2.2.5. Metaphorical entailment…………………………………………
13
1.2.3. The role of conceptual metaphors in description of emotions……
14
1.2.4. Summary……………………………………………………
14

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Chapter 2: A contrastive Analysis of the Metaphor “Anger is Heat”
in English and the Possible Equivalent expression in Vietnamese

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2.1. The cognitive basis of the metaphor “Anger is Heat” in English and
in Vietnamese……………………………………………………………

15
2.1.1. The cognitive basis of the English metaphor “Anger is Heat” …
15
2.1.2. The cognitive basis of the equivalent metaphor “Anger is Heat” in
Vietnamese…………………………………………………………………

16
2.2. The metaphor “Anger is Heat” in English and the equivalent in
Vietnamese………………………………………………………………

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2.2.1. The version “Anger is the Heat of a Hot Fluid in a Container” in
English and the Vietnamese equivalent………………………………

18
2.2.1.1. The entailment “Increase in the intensity of anger is the rising of
the fluid”…………………………………………………………………

20
2.2.1.2. The entailment “Intense anger produces steam and pressure on
the container”……………………………………………………………

22
2.2.1.3. The entailment “When anger becomes too intense, the person
explodes”…………………………………………………………………

23
2.2.1.4. The entailment “When a person explodes, parts of him go up in
the air”……………………………………………………………………

25
2.2.1.5. The entailment “When a person explodes what was inside him
comes out…………………………………………………………………

26
2.2.2. The English version “Anger is Fire” and the Vietnamese
equivalent…………………………………………………………………

27

2.3. Explanation for the differences of the metaphor “Anger is Heat” in
English and in Vietnamese………………………………………………

31
2.4. Summary………………………………………………………
34
Part C: Conclusion……………………………………………………
35
1. Recapitulation…………………………………………………………
35
2. Concluding remarks…………………………………………………
35
3. Suggestions for further studies…………………………………… …
36
References…………………………………………………………………
38

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PART A: INTRODUCTION

1. Rationale
It is common knowledge that metaphors, especially conceptual metaphors are not
only an effective device for representing the world outside language but also a tool
for thinking, speaking and acting. According to Ortony (1975) there are at least
three communicative functions that metaphor might perform.
Lakoff and Johnson (1980:3) state that “metaphor is pervasive in everyday life, not
just in language but in thought and action” and “our conceptual system is largely
metaphorical, then the way we think, what we experience, and what we do every
day is very much a matter of metaphor.”
During my study, I have been interested in metaphors especially conceptual

metaphors for emotions; therefore I choose conceptual metaphors as my thesis
topic. Of many everyday conceptual metaphorical expressions I would like to take a
careful study on the conceptual metaphor “Anger is Heat”. “Anger” is one of
abstract concepts of people’s emotions that are highly used in English and in
Vietnamese. How is this metaphor used differently in the two languages? These are
the main reasons for my study “A Contrastive Analysis of the Metaphor “Anger is
Heat” in English and the Possible Equivalent Expressions in Vietnamese”.
2. Aims and objectives of the study
The study tries to:
- give a systematic account of the theoretical background on conceptual metaphors.
- make explicit the similarities and differences between the English metaphor
“Anger is Heat” and the possible equivalent expressions in Vietnamese.
- propose implications for teaching metaphors.
3. Research questions
The objectives mentioned above can be elaborated into the following research
questions:

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- What are similarities and differences in regard to how the English metaphor
“Anger is Heat” and the Vietnamese equivalent are perceived?
- What causes the differences in cognitive mechanism of this metaphor between the
two languages?
- What are the possible recommendations for teaching English metaphors?
4. Scope of the study
In this thesis, I only work on the metaphor “Anger is Heat” in English and the
possible equivalents in Vietnamese to work out the contrast of cognitive model/
mechanism and to give explanation for the differences in the metaphor usage
between the two languages.
5. Methodology of the study
5.1. Principles governing the research

5.1.1 Principles governing the choice of research type
This study is intended to provide an overview and a contrastiveness of the metaphor
“Anger is Heat” in English and the Vietnamese equivalent. To achieve the aims,
the type of research chosen is basic research.
A combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches is employed with priority
given to qualitative analysis. The qualitative method is used to describe and analyze
the common and distinctive features of the metaphor “Anger is Heat” in English
and the equivalent expressions in Vietnamese.
5.1.2. Data-related issues
The researcher examines different samples containing metaphorical expressions
belonging to the central conceptual metaphor “Anger is Heat” from books,
previous studies, novels, stories, and the Internet in both English and Vietnamese.
Then the commonly used metaphorical expressions are selected to be analyzed. The
samples are authentic sources of data. Research procedure follows the research
design and principles strictly. So the validity and the reliability of the study can be
guaranteed.


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5.2. Methods of the study
5.2.1. Major methods and supporting methods
The study has been carried out with the combination of different methods. The
major method employed in this thesis is contrastive analysis to compare and
contrast mechanism of the metaphor “Anger is Heat” in the two languages. The
intended instrumental language herein assumed is Vietnamese and the target
language is English. Besides, the descriptive method is used as supporting one.
5.2.2. Data collection instruments
Document analysis and observation are employed as data collection instruments.
Document analysis is used to seek instances of the metaphor “Anger is Heat” in
English and the Vietnamese equivalents in books, previous studies, novels, and on

the Internet. The observation technique is used to enhance qualitative analysis of the
established details related to cognitive mechanism in the specified area of research.
5.2.3. Data analysis techniques
After being collected, the data are analyzed by using the following techniques:
- Classifying the samples collected into two sub-versions of the central metaphor
“Anger is Heat” based on the corresponding source domains.
- Systematizing is used to categorize the samples into metaphorical entailments in
accordance with their meanings.
- Inferring the similarities and differences of the metaphor “Anger is Heat” in
English and the possible equivalents in Vietnamese.
6. Structure of the thesis
The paper is divided into three parts as follows:
Part A is “Introduction”. This part gives a brief account of the rationale of the study,
the aims of the study, the scope of the study, the methods of the study, and the
thesis structure.
Part B is “Development”. This part consists of two chapters. Chapter one is
“Literature Review”. This chapter provides the background for the study. Chapter
two, “A Contrastive Analysis of the Metaphor “Anger is Heat” in English and the

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Possible Equivalent Expressions in Vietnamese”, provides a contrastive analysis of
the English metaphor “Anger is Heat” and the Vietnamese equivalents.
Part C, “Conclusion”, provides a recapitulation of the main points raised,
concluding remarks on each of the objectives, and suggestions for further studies.

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PART B: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER ONE: LITERATURE REVIEW
1.1 Review of the previous studies
As far as I know, so far there have been three major works related to the theme of
this research. Following are the major pieces of information about them:
First of all is Gorge Lakoff and Mark Johnson’s “Metaphor We Live By” in 1980.
This is one of the first studies about conceptual metaphors. This book is an
important basis of myriad of studies later. In this book, the two authors point out
that metaphors are not just matters of language, but are used extensively in
reasoning and understanding. Typically, an abstract domain is understood
metaphorically in terms of a more concrete domain. To a large degree, they argue,
the human conceptual system is metaphorical. This is very different from the
classical model of metaphor, which claims that metaphors are artifacts of language

use, and have nothing to do with meaning or understanding. This study is the main
theoretical basis for my study.
The second is the research “The Cognitive Model of Anger Inherent in American
English” of Gorge Lakoff and Zoltan Kovecses (1983). In this research, the authors
give basis of the cognitive model of anger in English as well as examples of a
system of metaphorical expressions for anger. From this work I chose the central
metaphor “Anger is Heat” for contrastive analysis with the equivalents in
Vietnamese.
The third is “Ẩn Dụ Về Sự Tức Giận Và Niềm Vui Trong Tiếng Anh Và tiếng Việt”
by Trần Bá Tiến (2009). In this study, the author gives a brief account of
metaphorical expressions for anger and happiness in English and In Vietnamese.
The central metaphor “Anger is Heat” is the most general metaphor which is
pervasive in both English and Vietnamese. Of all previous studies that I have read,
there has not been any one which makes a contrastive analysis of this metaphor in
English and the possible equivalent expressions in Vietnamese. This inspired me to
make a contrastive analysis of this metaphor in the two languages.

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1.2. Theoretical background
1.2.1. Traditional approach to metaphors
Put very generally, there are two main approaches in the study of metaphor: the
traditional approach and the cognitive approach. The traditional approach
encompasses many different theories but shares some fundamental presumptions.
The traditional theory of metaphor dates back to Aristotle’s view that metaphor is
"the application of an alien name by transference" (350 BC b [1950]: par.4 cited
from Koller (2003)) and the following are the most important views of metaphor
within this approach:
1.2.1.1. Substitution theory
The substitution theory describes metaphors as expressions, which are simply
substitutes for literal expressions (Black: 1955). Thus, for example, the speaker who

uses the metaphorical expression “He is a fox” could, according to the substitution
view, have used a literal expression “He is cunning” that means the same. The word
"fox" in this case communicates something that could have been expressed literally
and the metaphor here is simply used in a novel or poetic way to decorate and
embellish one's speech. The substitution view implies that metaphorical expression
performs no greater function than to please and amuse readers or listeners.
The problem with this view is that a metaphor may evoke a large number of
connotations and it would be difficult to paraphrase them all; and paraphrasing of a
metaphorical expression cannot present all the meanings that the original
metaphorical expression has (Ohkura: 2003).
1.2.1.2. Comparison theory
The comparison view is one of the most popular dualistic theories of metaphor.
According to comparison theory, metaphor is grounded in the similarity existing
between two concepts involved in it, so metaphor is considered to be an implicit
comparison between principal subject and subsidiary subject, Black (1955), Hoang
Tat Truong (1993). On such a view, the interpretation of a metaphor is a matter of

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interpreting the corresponding simile, and the truth of the metaphor is thus reduced
to that of the simile.
The problem with this view is that similarity is a symmetric relation, whereas, in
reality, metaphor is often asymmetric. For example saying “Surgeons are butchers”
means describing surgeons’ work metaphorically as butchers’ one, but does not
mean that “Surgeons are like butchers”.
To sum up, the main problems with all of these views are that they fail to explain
the creation of similarity that metaphor is capable of, that many metaphorical
expressions, such as “to defend a position”, are so conventional that they cannot be
regarded as anomalous language use, and that metaphor is described as a decorative
element without cognitive importance and metaphor is not necessary, it is just nice.
In other words, metaphor, according to traditional approach, is considered a mere

matter of language.
1.2.2. Cognitive approach to metaphor
While the traditional approach places metaphor as secondary to, or derived from,
literal meaning; cognitive linguistics aims to show that metaphors should not be
considered as a mere matter of language; it is actually a matter of thought.
According to this approach, metaphors do not express existing similarities; they
create them by metaphorical mapping from a source domain to a target domain.
1.2.2.1. What is a conceptual metaphor?
For Lakoff and Johnson (1980) metaphor is not a matter of language but of thought
processes. Therefore, they are not interested in metaphor as linguistic expressions
but as concepts behind the expressions. They do not even attempt to provide an
adequate definition for metaphor but describe the use of it as “understanding and
experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another” (p. 5). They use the term
“conceptual metaphor” when discussing metaphors which are part of our ordinary
conceptual system therefore reflected in our every language.
Though Lakoff and Johnson do not answer what a conceptual metaphor is, they
describe its use, its structure and its mechanics and its entailments. The following

15
parts will look at the structure and the mechanism and entailments of a conceptual
metaphor in order to arrive at a brief description of the type of the metaphor
discussed in this study.
1.2.2.2. Metaphorical mapping
Metaphor is not just the notion of similarity or comparison between the literal and
figurative meanings in an expression. The transference of metaphor in meaning is
realized by constructing mapping between two domains (Lakoff and Johnson:
1980).
The cognitive process that relates literal meanings to extended meanings is known
as mapping. A mapping is the systematic set of correspondences that exist between
constituent elements of the source and the target domain. The source domain is

predominantly associated with some tangible physical experiences and therefore it
is more concrete than the target domain (Esenova: 2000). As a result, to know a
conceptual metaphor is to know the set of mappings that applies to a given source-
target pairing.
We can see that the set of concept in which words and expressions are borrowed is
called “Source Domain”, while the concept which is the borrowers is called “Target
Domain” as shown in the metaphor “Anger is a Plant”.
Source Domain Target Domain
[PLANT] [ANGER]
Seed: And the small seed of anger against him knotted itself
inside her into a hard little core of resentment.
Germinations: And this, I think, is where much of the anger germinates
Root: Anger is rooted in our survival instincts and has a legitimate
and vital function in human behavior.
Bloom: The feeling of rejection had quickly blossomed into anger.
(Esenova: 2009)

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As we can see in the above examples, the target domain “anger” is understood
through the source domain “plant”. “Plant” is described as having “seed”,
“germinations”, “root”, and “bloom”.
1.2.2.3. The structure of a conceptual metaphor
The way metaphor transfers meaning from one area to another is described as a
source domain being mapped onto a target domain. Metaphor is a relation between
conceptual domains, so that the way we talk about the source domain can be applied
the target domain, based on systematic correspondences between the two. That it is
systematic means that multiple aspects of the source domain (appearances,
functions, and relations) may be mapped onto the target domain.
Since a conceptual metaphor is about two domains of thought and not just using one
word instead of another, the structure of a conceptual metaphor is complex.

According to Kövecses (2002) in conceptual metaphor, “conceptual domain” is a
critical concept in cognitive theories of metaphor. We rely on our knowledge and
experience on one concept in order to understand another concept. Therefore, “a
conceptual metaphor consists of two conceptual domains, in which one domain is
understood in terms of another,” (Kövecses: 2002, p. 4). We have special names for
these two conceptual domains. They are called source domain and target domain
respectively Lakoff &Johnson (1980), Kövecses (2002). The conceptual domain
from which we draw metaphorical expressions to understand another conceptual
domain is called the source domain, while the conceptual domain that is understood
this way is the target domain. For example, in the conceptual metaphor “Argument
is War”, we try to understand the target domain argument through the source
domain war.
1.2.2.4. Types of conceptual metaphors
According to cognitivists there are four main types of conceptual metaphors
1.2.2.4.1. Structural metaphors
The structural metaphor concept is perhaps Lakoff and Johnshon’s (1980) foremost
metaphor classification. They defined it as “cases where one concept is

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metaphorically structured in terms of another” (p. 14). Metaphorical structure is
characterized by two spatial structures called two conceptual domains: source
domain and target domain. The concept in the target domain is understood through
the concept in the source domain. The relationship between the source domain and
target domain is mapping, which means that the concept in the target domain is
mapped from the concept in the source domain. Take an example of the metaphor
“Argument is War”. As shown in the definition of structural metaphor, the
concept of argument is metaphorically structured in terms of the concept of war.
That is to say, when people argue, they act as if they are conducting a war by
attacking, defending, and counterattacking. This is present during and after
arguments and, furthermore, participants usually claim that they did attack, defend,

and counterattack –but only metaphorically (Lakoff & Johnson: 1980). This is
evidence of a structural metaphor, in that it structures people’s ways of thinking,
acting, speaking, and understanding. By looking into the structural relationship of
the concept of argument and the concept of war, one can understand that “the
concept is metaphorically structured, the activity is metaphorically structured, and,
consequently, the language is metaphorically structured” (Lakoff & Johnson: 1980,
p. 5).
1.2.2.4.2. Orientational metaphors
Another kind of metaphorical concept is called an orientational metaphor, which
organizes a whole system of concepts with respect to one another. These typically
deal with spatial orientation, such as up-down, in-out, front-back, on-off, deep-
shallow, and central peripheral. Orientational metaphors give a concept a spatial
orientation, such as happy is up. The fact that the concept happy is oriented as up
gives rise to expressions such as “You’re in high spirits”; “That boosted my spirits”;
“I fell into a depression” or “I’m feeling down” (Lakoff and Johnson: 1980, p. 15).
These metaphorical orientations are not arbitrary; they have a basis in our physical
and cultural experience. In particular, drooping posture is typically related to
sadness and depression, whereas erect posture relates to a positive emotional state.

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The fact that humans and most other mammals sleep lying down and stand up when
they awaken gives rise to the metaphor conscious is up; unconscious is down: “He
rises early in the morning”; “He’s under hypnosis” (Lakoff and Johnson: 1980, p.
15).
Similarly, the physical basis for the metaphor health and life are up; sickness and
death are down is that serious illness forces us to lie down physically and when one
dies, he or she is physically down. This gives rise to “He’s at the peak of health”;
“He came down with the flu”; “His health is declining”; “He dropped dead” (Lakoff
and Johnson: 1980, p. 15).
Having control or force is up; being subject to control or force is down occurs

because physical size typically correlates with physical strength, and the victor in a
fight is typically on top: “I have control over her”; “I am on top of the situation”;
“He’s in a superior position”; “He’s at the height of his power”; “He’s in the upper
echelon”; “She’s in the high command”; “He is under my control” (Lakoff and
Johnson: 1980, p. 15).
1.2.2.4.3. Ontological metaphors
Ontological metaphorical expressions occur when people try to impose substances
and entities with discrete boundaries on abstract concepts such as events, activities,
emotion, and so on (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980). According to Lakoff and Johnson
(1980: 25), understanding our experiences in terms of objects and substances allows
us to pick out parts of our experience and treat them as discrete entities or
substances of a uniform kind. Once we can identify our experiences as entities or
substances, we can refer to them, categorize them, group them, and quantify them –
and, by this means, reason about them.
Ontological metaphors tend to fulfill human purposes such as referring, quantifying,
identifying aspects, identifying causes, setting goals and motivating actions (Lakoff
& Johnson, 1980). Examples are as follows:
Referring
My fear of insects is driving my wife crazy.

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We are working toward peace.
(Lakoff and Johnson: 1980, p. 26)
Quantifying
It will take a lot of patience to finish this book.
There is so much hatred in the world.
(Lakoff and Johnson: 1980, p. 26)
Identifying aspects
The ugly side of this personality comes out under pressure.
The brutality of war dehumanizes us all.

(Lakoff and Johnson: 1980, p. 27)
Identifying causes
The pressure of his responsibilities caused his breakdown.
He did it out of anger.
(Lakoff and Johnson: 1980, p. 27)
Setting goals and motivating actions
He went to New York to seek fame and fortune.
I’m changing my way of life so that I can find true happiness.
(Lakoff and Johnson: 1980, p. 27)
1.2.2.4.4. Conduit metaphor
Another type of conceptual metaphor which is found in (at least the everyday
English) language is conduit metaphor. This type of conceptual metaphor was
originally described by Michael J. Reddy in 1979. This conceptual metaphor states
that ideas are manipulatable things that can be packed into words and language, and
then transferred (given or sent) to someone, who can subsequently unpack the
words to uncover the ideas inside.
Lakoff and Johnson identify a large number of examples of this metaphor. For
examples:
“It’s hard to get that idea across to him.”
“I gave you that idea.”

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“It’s difficult to put my ideas into words”
(Lakoff and Johnson: 1980, p. 11)
When considering our everyday ways of talking about ideas and how we
communicate them to each other, it is difficult (if not impossible) to discuss them
without using this reference to a conduit for information exchange.
1.2.2.5. Metaphorical entailment
Firstly we shall go to explain what entailment is. Entailment is a term derived from
formal logic, meaning logical consequence. Richards et al. (1992: 125) define

entailment as “a relationship between two or more sentences. If knowing that one
sentence is true gives us certain knowledge of the truth of the second sentence, then
the first sentence entails the second”.
As mentioned above, a conceptual metaphor refers to understanding one idea
(conceptual domain) in terms of another. This understanding is based on set of
mappings of the source domain onto the target domain. We usually have richer
knowledge about source domain. When this rich knowledge about elements is
mapped onto target domains, we have cases of metaphorical entailment. Therefore a
metaphorical entailment can be defined as the imparting of a characteristic of the
source domain (the metaphorical image) to the target domain (the concept receiving
metaphorical treatment) by logical means. Consider the following examples:
We will proceed in a step-by-step fashion.
We have covered a lot of ground.
(Lakoff and Johnson: 1980, p. 90)
These two metaphorical expressions are related to the conceptual metaphor “An
Argument is A Journey”. In this metaphor, the “participants” in the argument
correspond to “travelers”, the argument itself corresponds to a “journey” and the
“progress” of the argument corresponds to the “route” taken. However, in the
source domain “journey”, travelers can get lost, they can stray from the path, they
can fail to reach their destination, and so on. The association between source and

21
target gives rise to the entailment that these events can also occur in the target
domain “argument”.
1.2.2.6. The role of conceptual metaphors in description of emotions
Le Dinh Tu (2010) states that “The emotions are invisible, that is, we have no way
to describe or express them properly in our own way” as the result, “we have to
borrow the words available in the language to express our emotions.” It is a well
known fact that we mostly use metaphors to express our emotions such as love,
sadness, anger. According to Kovecses (2000) “the most prominent feature of

emotional language is highly figurative; that is, it is dominated by metaphorical and
metonymic expressions.” Metaphor might allow people to express emotions which
are difficult or impossible to express if they are restricted to literal uses of language
(Ortony and Fainsilber: 1987). In other words, metaphor is a powerful device for
communicating emotion from two distinct perspectives.
Emotions are abstract concepts. The relation of an emotion to other concepts tends
to make the emotion more concrete, as Corlenia M. Verspoor (1993) points out in
his research that “Metaphors are extremely pervasive in language. They provide a
powerful manner of making abstract concepts explicit. For these reasons, they are
frequently utilized to describe emotional state.” And practically, the use of
metaphorical expressions helps us express our emotions better. Take the two
following sentences: “Tom’s sneer made his partner very angry” and “Tom’s sneer
made his partner blood boil”. It is clear that in the later the emotion of anger is
described more concrete and we can see the level of anger.
1.2.3. Summary
To sum up, we can say that metaphor is not only a matter of language; it is a matter
of thought. It is not used only in poetics but also pervasive in everyday
conversations. And metaphors play a central role in expression of emotional state.
And this is one of the bases for this study though it only deals with one conceptual
emotional metaphor “Anger is Heat”.


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CHAPTER 2
A CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE METAPHOR “ANGER IS HEAT”
IN ENGLISH AND THE POSSIBLE EQUIVALENT
EXPRESSIONS IN VIETNAMESE

In this chapter we will discuss the most general metaphor for anger: “Anger is
Heat”. This metaphor is used with a highly frequency both in English and in

Vietnamese; however, the speakers do not see that they use metaphorical
expressions. What is the cognitive basis of this metaphor? What are differences in
source domain of this metaphor in the two languages? And why are there
differences? These questions will be discussed in this chapter.
2.1 The cognitive basis of the metaphor „Anger is Heat” in English and the
equivalent in Vietnamese
2.1.1 The cognitive basis of the metaphor “Anger is Heat” in English
In English, according to Lakoff and Kovecses (1983) anger metaphors are based on
the theory of the physiological effects of anger. They argue that the physiological
effects of anger are increased body heat, increased internal pressure (blood pressure,
muscular pressure), agitation, and interference with accurate perception. As anger
increases its physiological effects increase. There is a limit beyond which
physiological effects of anger impair normal functioning. Moreover, the theory is
largely used to tell when someone is angry, on the basis of their appearance. This
can be done by making use of a general metonymic principle THE
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF AN EMOTION STAND FOR THE EMOTION.
With this principle, a system of metonymies for anger is yielded:
BODY HEAT
- Don’t get hot under the collar.
- Billy’s a hothead.
(Lakoff and Kovecses: 1983)
INTERNAL PRESSURE

23
- When I found out, I almost burst a blood vessel.
- He almost had a hemorrhage.
(Lakoff and Kovecses: 1983)
REDNESS IN FACE AND NECK AREA:
- She was scarlet with rage.
- He got red with anger.

(Lakoff and Kovecses: 1983)
AGITATION
- She was shaking with anger
- I was hoping mad.
(Lakoff and Kovecses: 1983)

INTERFERENCE WITH ACCURATE PERCEPTION
- She was blind with rage.
(Lakoff and Kovecses: 1983)
It has been argued also that the theory of physiological effects, especially the part
that emphasizes HEAT, forms the basis of the most general metaphor for anger
“Anger is Heat”. This metaphor has other two versions, one where the heat is
applied to fluids, and the other where the heat is applied to solids. When it is
applied to fluids we get: Anger is the Heat of a Hot Fluid in a Container. The
specific motivation for this consists of HEAT, INTERNAL PRESSURE and
AGITATION parts of the folk theory. When “Anger is Heat” is applied to solids,
we get the version “Anger is Fire”, which is motivated by the HEAT and
REDNESS aspects of the folk theory of physiological effects.
2.1.2. The cognitive basis of the equivalent metaphor “Anger is Heat” in
Vietnamese
In Vietnamese, we have available words widely accepted by the community and
based on that we can know the specific content of the concept of "anger".

24
Vietnamese observes the same metonymic principle with English, and similar
metonymic expressions are found in everyday use:
BODY HEAT
Một người đàn ông nóng tính, “một chính trị gia”, hay một người cha thiểu
…, tất cả những người đó đều là Sean Penn, ảnh đế của Oscar lần thứ 81.
( />tri-gia-cua-hollywood.htm)

INTERNAL PRESSURE
Tức đến vỡ mật mất thôi, Khánh Bình quay phắt lại, anh chụp hai vai Mười
Bốn bóp mạnh: “Tôi báo cho cô biết, đừng chọc cho tôi nổi điên, không có
lợi cho cô đâu.”
(
REDNESS IN FACE AND NECK AREA
- Bà Chúa đỏ mặt tía tai, tức lắm nhưng chẳng dám nói gì.
( />quynh.html)
AGITATION
An Nhiên cảm thấy giận run người, đó là lần đầu tiên cầm bản thảo trong
tay cô chỉ muốn vò nát và vứt bỏ.
(
INTERFERENCE WITH ACCURATE PERCEPTION
Khi hôn nhân không còn hạnh phúc, đôi khi người phụ nữ trở thành nạn nhân
của nhũng ông chồng bị cơn giận làm mờ mắt…
(
The central metaphor “Anger is Heat” in Vietnamese also has two versions like in
English: the version “Anger is the Heat of a Hot Fluid in a Container” and the
version “Anger is Fire”.
In summary, the basis for the central metaphor “Anger is Heat” is similar between
the two languages. This is expected because it is based on bodily experience that

25
should be universal among all human beings. And this central metaphor in both
languages has two same versions.
2.2. The metaphor “Anger is Heat” in English and the equivalent in
Vietnamese
As pointed above, the central metaphor “Anger is Heat” in both English and
Vietnamese has two versions: “Anger is the Heat of a Hot Fluid in a Container”
and “Anger is Fire”. Therefore, we will study these two sub-versions in English

and the Vietnamese equivalents to point outs similarities and differences between
them.
2.2.1. The version “Anger is the Heat of a Hot Fluid in a Container” in English
and the Vietnamese equivalent
In this metaphor, the target domain “anger” is understood through the source
domain “the heat of a fluid in a container”. The mechanisms of this metaphor in
English and in Vietnamese are the same and based on a set of correspondences
between the source domain “the heat of a fluid in a container” and the target domain
“anger”. These correspondences are in two types: ontological and epistemic.
The ontological correspondences are the correspondences between the entities in the
source domain and the corresponding entities in the target domain. These
correspondences are, in other words, the mapping of the source domain onto the
target domain and can be defined as follows:
Source:
Target
The container
The body
The heat of a fluid
The anger
The heat scale
The anger scale, with and end points
zero and limit
Container heat
Body heat
Pressure in container
Internal pressure in the body
Agitation of fluid and container
Physical agitation
The limit of the container’s capacity to
the limit on the anger scale

26
withstand pressure caused by heat
Explosion
Loss of control
Danger of explosion
Danger of loss of control
Based on these ontological corresponding the meaning of the metaphor or the
epistemic correspondences becomes clearer. Epistemic correspondences are
correspondences between knowledge about the source domain and corresponding
knowledge about the target domain. We can define epistemic correspondences of
the metaphor as follows:
Source:
Target:
The effect of intense fluid heat is
container heat, steam, and agitation.
The effect of intense anger is body heat,
internal pressure, and agitation.
When the fluid is heated past a certain
limit, pressure increases to the point at
which the container explodes.
When anger increases past a certain
limit, pressure increases to the point at
which the person loses control.
An explosion is damaging to the
container and dangerous to bystanders
A loss of control is damaging to angry
person and to other people.
The fluid can be prevented from
explosion by removing the fire

Removing the cause of anger can
prevent it form being vented.
It is sometimes possible control the
release of heated fluid for either
destructive or constructive purposes; this
has the effect of lowering the level of
heat and pressure.
It is sometimes possible control the
release of anger for either destructive or
constructive purposes; this has the effect
of lowering the level of anger and
internal pressure.
These correspondences between source domain and target domain constitute
elaborations of conceptual metaphors. Here, based on these correspondences, the
central metaphor “Anger is the Heat of a Hot Fluid in a Container” has a rich
system of metaphorical entailments expressing different levels of increase of anger.
The following parts will investigate the system of metaphorical entailments of the
central metaphor “Anger is the Heat of a Hot Fluid in a Container” in English

27
and the Vietnamese equivalent to find out the similarities and differences in the
expressions of anger between the two languages.
2.2.1.1. The entailment “Increase in the intensity of anger is the rising of the
fluid”
This entailment is yielded from the knowledge about fluids that when they start to
boil, the fluid goes upward. Metaphorical expressions belong to this entailment
express different levels of anger corresponding to the rising of the fluid from
starting point to the boiling point. Both English and Vietnamese have metaphorical
expressions belonged to this entailment
In English we have a numbers of metaphorical expressions for this like: gorge rise,

weel up,get a rise, towering rage, seethe with anger, build up, blood boil, boiling
point as in the following examples:
- I felt my gorge rise and I knew I was going to lose my temper.
(
- His pent-up anger welled up inside him. ( Lakoff and Kovecses: 1983)
- We got a rise out of the teacher when we opened the window in the cold
weather. ( />%28someone%29/)
- "I have a towering rage over this," Mr Katter said.
( />general/finance/katters-towering-rage-over-tully-sale/2217534.aspx)
- Like other taxpayers who will be promptly penalized if they pay their
income tax late, I am seething with anger after reading the Auditor-General's
2006 Report on the wanton wastage of public funds for government
procurement. (
- My anger kept building up inside me. (Lakoff and Kovecses, 1983)
- You make my blood boil. (Lakoff and Kovecses, 1983
- Public anger reached boiling point when troops were called in to control
protesters. (

28
In Vietnamese people usually use the states “nóng” and “sôi” of the fluid to express
the anger.
- Sau sự cố Phương Thanh giẫm chân lên sách, cư dân mạng thêm một lần
nữa nóng mắt với hình ảnh Angela Phương Trinh giẫm chân lên sách.
( />Trinh-giam-chan-len-sach/206142.gd)
- Mấy ngày qua, Mỹ đã liên tục có những động thái liên quan đến Biển Đông
khiến Bắc Kinh phải “nóng mặt”. ( />qua/my-lam-trung-quoc-nong-mat-ve-van-de-bien-dong/a70807.html)
- Tiểu Long sôi máu: “Ngày nào mày cũng đi từ sang sớm đến tối mịt mà
bảo là không có gì à?” (Nguyễn Nhật Ánh; 2012, p. 2)
- Chao ôi! Nghe đến đó, cả chục triệu người đã ứa gan sôi mật vì đặt lộn
niềm tin! (

- Tôi quay sang Ngữ, mặt tím lại, mắt long sòng sọc. Nhưng Ngữ đã ngó lơ
chỗ khác. Tôi thấy nó mím môi lại, chắc là nó nén cười. (Nguyễn Nhật Ánh:
2011, p.140)
- Quốc Toản đứng phắt dậy, mắt long lên: “Ai chủ hoà? Ai chủ hoà? Cho nó
mượn đường ư? Không biết đấy là kế giả đồ diệt Quắc của nó đấy sao? Dâng
giang sơn gấm vóc này cho giặc hay sao mà lại bàn thế?”
( />khac/8514-la-co-theu-sau-chu-vang)
- Rõ vớ vẩn cho một thằng thanh niên hư hỏng như tôi khi nghĩ đến hai tiếng
hẹn hò. Nó làm tim gan tôi sôi lên bằng sự căm giận của trái tim si tình bị
ruồng bỏ. (Lê Vũ Trường Giang: 2010)
- Ông nội tôi biết chuyện tức sôi ruột, chửi bới cả gia đình nhà mẹ tôi. Tiếng
dữ đồn tới xóm làng bên kia sông.
(
In the expressions “mắt long sòng sọc” and “mắt long lên” there is no word “nóng”
or “sôi”, but “long sòng sọc” and “long lên” imply the boiling fluid.