earticle

영어

The purpose of this study is to show that the spatial metaphors of either ‘container’ or ‘orientation’ concepts are used to vividly express various moral concepts, which makes communication more effective. These metaphors are expressed on the basis of physical experiences in daily life. The spatial metaphors of container concepts, based on the conceptual metaphor [MORALITY IS CONTAINER], concretely express both morality and immorality of person's personality, thought, speech act, behavior, means, etc using 正․斜(form), 大․小(size), 寬․窄(width), 高․低(height), 厚․薄(thickness), 重․輕(weight). These are semantic contrast pairs, in which the former clearly expresses positive moral concepts and the latter represents negative moral concepts in daily communication. The spatial metaphors of orientation concepts, based on the conceptual metaphor [MORALITY IS ORIENTATION], are frequently used to represent both morality and immorality of person's behavior, speech act, manner, personality, etc using 上(up)․下(down) and 右(right)․左(left). Especially 上 and 右 with a positive meaning are often used for the expressions of moral concepts. In contrast, 下 and 左 with a negative meaning are frequently used for the representation of immoral concepts. Thus, this study suggests that the spatial metaphors of either ‘container’ or ‘orientation’ concepts are used as a useful tool for communicative effects through clear and concise moral evaluation of person's personality, thought, speech act, behavior, manner, status, means, etc in daily communication. This study will be helpful for the Korean students majoring in the Chinese language to understand Chinese culture and moral values.